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<extra_id_5>Teenagers can't afford to buy expensive gifts. So what do you do if you want to givegifts to the important people in your life? In fact, you don't have to spend much money onholiday gifts. There are many cheap ways to do that. Here are some make-it-yourself gifts ideas to try: To your mom and dad: You can clean the room, sing a song or write a letter to your mom and dad. Youcould also draw a picture if you like that. To your teachers: Sometimes students put their pocket money together and buy a teacher a holidaygift. Some kids would like to give their own gifts. You can send a nice card with the wordsof thanks inside. You might even write down the favorite things you've learned in theteacher's class this year. It will make the teacher feel happy. To the kids who need a friend: The holidays are a good time to think about people who are lonely. Maybe there issomeone in your class who doesn't seem to have any friends. Try to do something for thisperson. It could be giving a Christmas card or just chatting with him or her. It's a smallthing, but it could mean a lot to him or her. If you want to send your teacher a card, what will you write in it?
<extra_id_0>Ways to improve your grades.
<extra_id_1>The names of the students you don't like.
<extra_id_2>Something you've learned in the teacher's class.
<extra_id_3>The importance of making nice gifts by yourself.
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<extra_id_5>Which is the best tool to measure the angles of a triangular object?
<extra_id_0>a meter stick
<extra_id_1>a compass
<extra_id_2>a protractor
<extra_id_3>a spring scale
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<extra_id_5>The inventor of the world wide web,Tim BernersLee,has won an important award which comes with a prize bag of one million euros (PS671,000).The "Father of the Web" was named as the first winner of the Millennium Technology Prize by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation.He said he had just been "in the right place at the right time" and did not want his photo taken. In 1991,he came up with a system to organize,link and browse Net pages which revolutionized the Internet.The British scientist was knighted for his pioneering work in 2003. Sir Tim created his program while he was at the particle physics institute,Cern,in Geneva.The computer code he came up with let scientists easily share research findings across a computer network.In the early 1990s,it was called the "world wide web," and is still the basis of the web as we know it. The famous man never went on to commercialize his work.Instead he worked on expanding the use of the Net as a channel for free expression and cooperation. "The web is encouraging new types of social networks and opening up new ways for information management and business development.The web has significantly improved many people's ability to obtain information central to their lives,"said Pekka Tarjanne,chairman of the Millennium Technology Prize award committee. Just under 80 people from 22 countries were nominated for the prize for their work in the areas of health,communication,new materials and the environment. The Millennium Technology Prize was set up by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation,an independent body backed by the public and private money which aims to recognize outstanding creations. Sir Tim currently heads up the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston,where he is now based as an academic. What would be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>The Millennium Technology Prize
<extra_id_1>Tim BernersLee
<extra_id_2>The World Wide Web
<extra_id_3>New Honor for the Web's Inventor
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<extra_id_5>For almost forty years the Empire State Building in New York City was the world's tallest skyscraper . The building reaches a height of 1, 250 feet. It has 102 floors. The use of steel frames made its height possible. Steel walls can rise height without needing to be thick. Steel frame construction is strong. All plates are fixed firmly together by metal bolts called rivets . When set in place, rivets are usuall red- hot. One end is already rounded. A riveter uses a special hammer to shape the other end. Then the rivet cools. It holds the plates firmly. High winds can move this strong building. A wind of a hundred miles an hour has caused it to move almost one and a half inches. In steel -frame building, the bottom walls _ .
<extra_id_0>must be very thick
<extra_id_1>must be rounded
<extra_id_2>are usually red - hot
<extra_id_3>do not need to be thick
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<extra_id_5>There is a cry of rage, and a tennis racket crashes to the ground. Jake,age 7,has just lost another match and is now in tears beside the court. His sister Sally, just one year older, looks at her mother and rolls her eyes: it is hard to enjoy winning when this keeps happening. It is not an unusual situation, and it is one reason why many people argue that competition is bad for children. However,the truth is that competitive games are a valuable preparation for adult life. Games with winners and losers give children the chance to experience life's ups and downs .Take Jake, for example.Even though he is unhappy now, he will probably be smiling and laughing with his sister in a few minutes, just like the last time this happened . Gradually, he will learn that the world does not end when you lose a game. Eventually, he may even be able to lose with a smile on his face. This is an important lesson. Not everything in life goes the way you would like, and it is important to know how to handle disappointment t when it occurs. Children who participate in competitive games develop qualities that allow them to succeed in the complex world of adult life. For example, one of the missions of the Youth Olympic Games is to inspire young people to adopt the Olympic values, which include striving, Determination and optimism. Competition creates a desire to do better. Children have to learn to succeed in a competitive atmosphere in order to take advantage of opportunities in the future .Although it is possible to win by chance occasionally, people who win and keep winning work very hard to achieve their success. On the negative side,there are those who will say that competition actually encourages some values , which does happen . It is common to see sports competition in which the desire to win has replaced the desire to have fun. You may even see very young children playing violently----like the superstars they see on TV. While the bad behavior of young athletes is troubling, the problem is not the competition itself. In reality, the blame lies with the professional players who are bad role models for these children. In fact, a recent study of young athletes by the school of Physical Health Education at the University of Wyoming showed an improvement in mood after exercise, athletes were less depressed or tense. Of course, there are parents who argue that children of Jake's age are too young to handle the pain of losing. But whether we like it or not, adult life is very competitive , and keeping children away from competition does them more harm than good. If children do not learn how to compete, they will be defeated by people who can. It is an unfortunate fact of life: whether ten or a hundred people want the same job, there can be only one winner .Wouldn't you want your child to be that person? The example of the Youth Olympics is meant to illustrate that _
<extra_id_0>Competitions develop children's qualities to succeed in their future life
<extra_id_1>the Olympic Values should be promoted among young people
<extra_id_2>Taking advantages of future opportunities makes one desire to do better
<extra_id_3>Only by working hard to keep winning can one achieve true success
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<extra_id_5>One of the most famous writers from England by far is Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie's real name was Agatha Miller. She was born in England in 1890.She married Archibald Christie when she was 24 years old, and she changed her family name to Christie. She sold her first mystery book in 1920. This book was the first time that the world met Mrs.Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot. Ten years after that, Mrs. Christie wrote her book with her second famous detective, Miss Marple. In 1928, Mrs. Christie's first marriage broke up. She married M.E.L. Mallowan in 1930, but she still wrote her books under the name Agatha Christie. In her life, Agatha Christie wrote 60 books, 16 plays, and more than 100 short stories. She passed away in 1976 when she was 85 years old. Her books can still be found on sale in bookstores all around the world. What did Aghta Christie do?
<extra_id_0>She was a detective.
<extra_id_1>she wrote books.
<extra_id_2>She was a mystery.
<extra_id_3>She knew famous detectives.
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<extra_id_5>As the earth orbits the sun
<extra_id_0>various places experience different weather patterns
<extra_id_1>weather is consistent world-wide
<extra_id_2>weather is always different
<extra_id_3>we all have snow
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<extra_id_5>Security--for the information on your smart phone, as well as for the phone itself--is a hot topic these days.The truth is that you're packing a lot of sensitive information on your phone, and you should keep it safe. When it comes to physical security, iPhone users would do well to download Find My iPhone, a free app from Apple that allows you to visit a website and see your (lost, stolen or misplaced) phone on the map.You can then sound an alarm, send a message that will pop up on its screen, lock the phone or erase all your data. Android does not have an exact equivalent , but there are plenty of alternatives. A free app called Lookout offers the findmyphone feature.The paid version allows you to wipe the data from your phone remotely. Then there is your coffee shop's WiFi network.Anyone with minimal technical expert skill can snoop on people using shared wireless networks, harvesting passwords and other personal data. Lookout will caution you when you've logged on to an insecure network, but cannot protect you once you're there. In order to protect yourself on such networks, you can use a virtual private network, or VPN. This turns all your activity into nonsense to anyone trying to read along with you from across Starbucks. It also keeps websites from tracking you and, if you're travelling, allows you to get access to sites that may be blocked in other countries. If you have an iPhone, the simplest VPN app is probably Hotspot Shield, whose distinguishing feature is said to be that it automatically kicks in each time you start browsing , as opposed to other VPN apps that require you to start them up manually .This matters, because even if you decide you want a VPN app, you want to spend approximately zero time thinking about it. For the most part, _ was true of Hotspot Shield, though occasionally it took a while to connect or temporarily lost connection without warning. I found myself having to turn the app on and off sometimes, which involved setting my phone constantly. If even reading about the settings on your phone drive you crazy, then it is probably best to stay away from a VPN app. But if you're the type who can't resist checking your bank balance from your corner bar, the hassle may be preferable to the risk. By using VPN, users can _ .
<extra_id_0>find their lost phones on the Internet
<extra_id_1>remove all the data from the phone remotely
<extra_id_2>check the bank balance now and then
<extra_id_3>save their browsing from being tracked
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<extra_id_5>In today's fast-paced society, few people take time to enjoy the midday meal.Most of us just rush right through it. We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers, Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just _ The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either.We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24 - hour news.Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand - held electronic devices. Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break.These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not. Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch.This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society. Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective . A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box.It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context . What we eat at lunch is also important.In Partnoy' s opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food.Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think. However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over -- packed fast food chain. Despite these benefits, some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch.Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal. According to Frank Partnoy, long lunch breaks _ .
<extra_id_0>are time for the workers to relax their mind
<extra_id_1>make the employees work longer hours
<extra_id_2>are for employees to have a quick lunch
<extra_id_3>make the workers eat a proper lunch at home
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<extra_id_5>You are going to high school , aren't you ? Maybe you don't know what to do . Here is a list of the top six things to do when you are in high school . These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like . Here you go ! 1Find your passion and what kind of person you are : Whether it's dance ,basketball ,or drawing ,the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in . 2 Talk to people you wouldn't usually talk to : Meet new people ,find new friends and even talk to the people you don't like. It will show what a great person you are . You never know what will happen after high school. 3Take part in at least one contest: This will give you tears of laughter, happiness and memories . 4Get a job : This will help you see what it's like to have responsibility( ) . It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself . 5Take a trip with your friends :It doesn't matter where you go or what you do , the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place . 6Do your best at school : Don't ever get lazy . Working hard now will help you in the future. What's the main idea of the passage ?
<extra_id_0>Have a happy school life.
<extra_id_1>How to get along with your school mates.
<extra_id_2>Ideas of successful high school life .
<extra_id_3>Make your school life easy .
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<extra_id_5>I learned how our attitudes made a big difference in our everyday lives from my friend Mary. She doesn't have any pets. I happened to see her outside on a -30 degree morning walking a dog. I felt sorry for Mary, out there walking a dog that's not hers in such cold weather. I thought maybe she was saying to herself, "Yeah, this is why I don't have any pets! I hate walking dogs." Later that day I saw Mary and said, "I saw you out there walking a dog this morning. Are you unhappy because you had to walk it on such a cold day?" To my surprise, she said that she enjoyed getting out there and walking the dog and that she got good exercise because of the dog. She also said she had talked to her brother, the dog's owner, who was on holiday in Orlando, Florida with his family. He said his children were enjoying Disney World and the resorts . His four-year-old son had breakfast with Mickey Mouse and said it was the best day in his life. Mary said, "If I can help my brother and his family have a wonderful time relaxing for a week, knowing that their pet is being loved and cared for, what more could I ask for?" She added, "It's worth it for me to make the sacrifice so that they can go and have fun." I learned a lesson from Mary. What do we know about Mary?
<extra_id_0>She liked exercising outside before that day.
<extra_id_1>In fact she likes taking care of dogs very much.
<extra_id_2>She likes helping others.
<extra_id_3>She was sorry for not going on holiday with her brother.
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<extra_id_5>Today, almost everyone has heard of Harry Potter.The books detailing his experiences at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have aroused passion, creativity, and interest in reading throughout the world. But have you ever considered why you are a fan of the Harry Potter series? JK Rowling has created a list of characters and an environment for them to inhabit that appeals to both adults and children. The fantasy aspect of the wizarding world expands the imagination, and takes the mind to new and exciting places.Anything could happen there.Her stories contain parts of the believable and unbelievable, changing the predictability that readers commonly come across and bear in fiction. The main theme of the series, including good versus evil, prejudice, love, death, sacrifice, friendship and loyalty, in actuality contributes to the ever-lasting nature of the stories.At the same time, these themes remind us of classic literature, offering mature readers tales that wear like a comfortable pair of shoes, while introducing younger readers to concepts they will meet throughout their lives. Much of the appeal also comes from the characters.In each book, JK Rowling introduces and describes the characters in such a way that we wonder not only about their futures, but also about their pasts.Even supporting characters are suddenly more than just extras in the background.And what of Harry Potter himself? We care about Harry, because we watch him grow from an innocent boy to a powerful wizard.We see him as both Hero and Victim.He experiences endless love and extreme pain, and as readers, we experience them with him. This perfect combination of emotion, suspense and fantasy, together with the fact that JK Rowling is a superb storyteller is the reason why we are Harry potter fans.People are fond of Harry Potter series.With books like these, it' s hard not to be. Harry Potter series become popular partly because _ .
<extra_id_0>they remind us of the childhood and environment we had in the past
<extra_id_1>they take us to a world beyond our imagination and expectation
<extra_id_2>they offer us ever-lasting nature of the stories
<extra_id_3>they set an example of hero for us to follow
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<extra_id_5>This boy is Peter Brown . His first name is Peter . His last name is Brown . He is in No.3 Middle School . His school ID card number is 279-4856 . His English teacher is Miss White . Miss White is a good teacher . Jack is his good friend at school . They are in the same school and the same grade . Mrs. Green is Jack's mother . She is an English teacher , too . She is in this school , too . But Peter does not know it . _ is right .
<extra_id_0>Mrs. Green isn't Jack's parent .
<extra_id_1>Peter and Jack are good friends .
<extra_id_2>Mrs. Green is a Chinese teacher .
<extra_id_3>Peter knows Jack is Mrs. Green's son
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<extra_id_5>When someone says "well, I guess I'll have to face the music", it doesn't mean that he is planning to go to hear a singer. It is something far less happy, as you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and did that or why you did not do this or that. At some time or another, every one of us has to "face the music", especially as children. We can all remember father's angry word "I wasn't to talk to you" and only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was ! In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to "face the music". The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If ...that means parents' cold faces and the contempt of the teachers and classmates. "To face the music" is well known to every American, younger or old. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice. If you didn't listen to your father's words, you would "face the music" ,or _ .
<extra_id_0>do something to please him
<extra_id_1>do something to make him angry
<extra_id_2>be punished by him
<extra_id_3>be pleased with him
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<extra_id_5>Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low that you can see their underwear? What do you think of that? Fashionable? Some of today's teenagers are big fans of such a look. But recently this trend has been at the center of an argument in Italian middle schools. The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low-rise jeans that expose underwear and parts of the body. His request came after a class trip, when he saw one boy's baggy trousers slide to his feet. He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for school. But in Italy, a nation that takes fashion very seriously, the suggestion caused a debate among parents, teachers and students. The issue is whether the headmaster's request will limit students' freedom-- or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual. A parents' group praised the move in favor of good taste, while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings. "We do not want to kick fashion out," the headmaster explained, "but extremes of fashion like this are not right in school." Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers. Most students have simply ignored the request. Ludovica Gaudio, 14, wore extremely low trousers exposing orange underwear in class. It was cold, so she wore a matching orange scarf. Another 14-year-old said she would probably respect the request, simply for practical reasons. "I don't really feel comfortable in those sort of jeans," said Sarah Lattanzi, "in winter, when dressed like that, it's quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache." The purpose of this story is to _
<extra_id_0>show Chinese students that wearing very fashionable clothes in school is under attack in other countries, too.
<extra_id_1>show that dress code is necessary even in a country like Italy
<extra_id_2>let us see that Italian students react differently to schools' requests.
<extra_id_3>tell us that a debate started in Italian middle schools over the way students dress in School
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<extra_id_5>When someone who is in good health dies suddenly ,there is usually an inquest .A coroner will do it.His job is to find out exactly how a person died. If there is nothing suspicious about the death,he will decide that the person died from natural causes or an accident.if, however ,he is suspicious,he may decide that the person's death was caused by a person or persons unknown. One day the coroner was trying to find out exactly what had caused the death of a local businessman,Henry Watson. The man's wife was explaining something.She was very sad and had to stop from time to time.The coroner did not want to make her sadder than necessary ,but he had to find out the truth.There were questions he had to ask. "Mrs.Watson,I know this is painful for you,"he said,"but i want you to think very carefully and then answer my questions.You and your husband were having dinner at home.Is that correct? " "Yes." ''Suddenly he fell to the floor? " "Yes." "You stood up and hurried to him ?You knelt beside him ?His stomach was in great pain? " "Yes." "Did he say anything? " The wife kept her head down. "Please,Mrs.Watson,you must answer the question.What were his last words? " The wife took a deep breath and then spoke."He said,"She replied in a very low voice,"I'm not surprised that seafood we had for dinner cost you only 50 cents," What was the probable cause of Henry Watson's death?
<extra_id_0>Eating the food that went bad.
<extra_id_1>Getting too old.
<extra_id_2>Having a serious heart attack.
<extra_id_3>Being murdered by his cook.
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<extra_id_5>While car sharing is a concept that's catching on, old-fashioned carpooling where a group of people take turns driving each other to work has always faced a resistance . In a study on traffic problems by ABC News, 84% of those who drive to work say that they still do it alone. More than half those lone riders insist that carpooling is just too inconvenient, and 18% say they simple don't know anyone to share a ride with. Now technology makes carpooling easier and more fun. NuRide, a company provided an online carpooling service last year, offers daily travelers in the Washington area not just a web-based list of would-be carpoolers but also a way to arrange a trip online. Here's how it works: rider seekers enter the positions where their trip will begin and end, the time they want to leave and if they're willing to drive or just ride in someone else's car. The website's search engine then looks for matches and makes lists of the names of traveling companions, along with the car model and the exact time and place to meet for each trip. People who want to share the ride can show their interest in joining in online and then meet their car mates when it's time to go. NuRide users aren't riding with total strangers. They are required to provide the name of their employer and a work e-mail address, both of which need to be checked before being listed on the website. To attract users, NuRide offers a frequent rider prize: anyone who shares a ride gets a $1 credit. So far, 2,300 people have signed up. NuRide CEO Rick Steele said that more than 50,000 rides have been arranged on the website, resulting in 1.4 million fewer miles driven and 650 fewer tons of automobile emissions . One who wants to share a ride with NuRide users must _ .
<extra_id_0>give information about his interest
<extra_id_1>meet his car mates before the trip
<extra_id_2>offer the name of his employer
<extra_id_3>provide his home address
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<extra_id_5>Environmental health is defined as the control of the factors in the environment that may have harmful effects on people's physical, mental, or social well-being . Because natural disasters expose people to danger by bringing up or threatening their immediate environment, effective management of environmental health after a natural disaster is of great importance. The environmental health measures that must be considered after a natural disaster include the supply of appropriate shelter for individuals or groups of people left homeless, the distribution of safe and accessible water, and the protection and distribution of safe food products and so on. To effectively manage environmental health during and after a disaster, it is important that a state of preparation is in effect before the event actually occurs. During an emergency, success largely depends on making good, rapid judgment and appropriate response measures. High-level decision makers, therefore, must be familiar with sound measures beforehand and should be given an accurate judgment of the disaster's specific effects as quickly as possible. This book is intended to serve as a guide for those who may be called upon to make emergency decisions after disaster strikes. The recommended environmental health measures have been listed in the order of priority in which they should be taken during an emergency. However, each natural disaster is unique in the degree or type of emergency. In response to any given disaster, decision makers may find it necessary to change the priority assigned to any particular measure. In order to effectively cope with the emergency, the most important is that _ .
<extra_id_0>we should have enough shelters and tools
<extra_id_1>everyone should be familiar with the situation
<extra_id_2>we should be well prepared for it in advance
<extra_id_3>we can deal with it just as we did before
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<extra_id_5>At 20 year of age F.W. Woolworth found work in exchange for room and board at a local dry goods store , and after his employers held a successful clearance sale he saw the possibilities of a discount store. His key improvements were having the goods on open display instead of behind the counter , and having prices plainly marked instead of bargaining. With borrowed funds he opened his first F.W. Woolworth store in the suburb of Utica, New York in 1879, but the store closed the following year . Deciding that his problem had been a poor location. He opened a new store in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylyania in 1881. Within months he was opening multiple stores in business partnerships with local retailers,and within a few years Woolworth was a millionaire. In 1909 he opened his first store in England, and in 1913 the company opened its new headquarters in New York's Woolworth Building--then the tallest building in the world. Woolworth had a deep fear of dentists , allowing his teeth to rot ,and died of a dental lunch counters in many stores , Woolworth was America's largest restaurant chain through the 1940s. The company peaked as the world's largest department store chain in the late 1970s, with more than 4 . 000 stores. By the late 1990s business was sputtering , and the company closed all of its American department stores,renamed itself Venator, and sold the Woolworth Building . In 2003 Venator renamed itself after the company's most successful division, Foot Locker, Inc . Under separate ownership , Woolworth stores are still operated in Austria , Germany , Mexico, South Africa , and the United Kingdom. A clearance sale offers customers a good chance _ .
<extra_id_0>to make a purchase on cash
<extra_id_1>to buy something in a very low price
<extra_id_2>to bargain with the sellers
<extra_id_3>to pick up what you like for free
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<extra_id_5>Construction workers in Southern California have made a wild discovery. They were digging at a building site in San Timoteo Canyon when they unearthed hundreds of ancient animal fossils. Researchers say the bones hold important clues about the history of the region. Nearly 1, 500 fossils were recovered from the dusty canyon. The remains are about 1.4 million years old. They include the bones of a new species of deer, several small rodents and more. A giant cat fossil was also found. Scientists believe the animal was an ancestor of the saber- toothed tiger. Signs of plant life were uncovered as well. "This is a huge find," says Rick Greenwood, a scientist studying the site. "I don't think most people had any idea that those types of animals were wandering around here more than a million years ago." San Timoteo Canyon is located about 85 miles from Los Angeles. The area of the canyon where the fossils were found was once part of a green river valley. Today, the region is dry and plant life is rare. Most of the fossils are well preserved. Experts say a muddy lake bed may have trapped thirty animals that wandered over for a drink. The mud helped to protect the animal fossils. The remains are a million years older than those discovered at the famous La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Scientists studying the bones will be able to learn more about how the animals adapted to changes in the environment. "We have a confused view of what this time period was like, " says another scientist. "A discovery like this could really be an important contribution." About 35 different animal species are represented in the fossil collection. Scientists began removing bones from the site last fall. The project was completed this summer. Starting next year, the fossils will be on display at the Western Science Center in the nearby city of Hemet, California. What does the passage mainly focus on?
<extra_id_0>The secret of ancient animals' deaths.
<extra_id_1>The preparation for a future fossil exhibition.
<extra_id_2>A great discovery of fossils.
<extra_id_3>The history of San Timoteo Canyon.
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<extra_id_5>We have two daughters: Kristen is seven years old and Kelly is four.Last Sunday evening, we invited some people home for dinner.I dressed them nicely for the party, and told them that their job was to join Mommy in answering the door when the bell rang.Mommy would introduce them to the guests, and then they would take the guests' coats upstairs and put them on the bed in the second bedroom. The guests arrived.I introduced my two daughters to each of them.The adults were nice and kind and said how lucky we were to have such good kids. Each of the guests paid too much attention to Kelly, the younger one, admiring her dress, her hair and her smile.They said she was a remarkable girl to be carrying coats upstairs at her age. I thought to myself that we adults usually make a big "to do" over the younger one because she's the one who seems more easily hurt.We do it with the best of intention . But we seldom think of how it might affect the other child.I was a little worried that Kristen would feel she was being outshined .I was about to serve dinner when I realized that she had been missing for twenty minutes.I ran upstairs and found her in the bedroom, crying. I said, "What are you doing, my dear?" She turned to me with a sad expression and said, "Mommy, why don't people like me the way they like my sister? Is it because I'm not pretty? Is that why they don't say nice things about me as much?" I tried to explain to her, kissing and held her in arms to make her feel better. Now, whenever I visit a friend's home, I make it a point to speak to the elder child first. From this experience ,the writer changed the way of _ .
<extra_id_0>dressing her daughters
<extra_id_1>visiting friends
<extra_id_2>greeting the elder child
<extra_id_3>kissing.
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<extra_id_5>Among the four skills in learning English ,which of these is the "Odd-Man-Out"?The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can't really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be "dangerous" because men in white coats may come and take you away! Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?At school if you pay to go to a language school ,you should use the chance to speak .If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students ,try to say as much as possible. Don't worry about your mistakes. Just speak! Conversation Clubs Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another .Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you .They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee. Shopping Even if you don't want to buy anything ,you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop."How much does this cost?" "Can I pay by cheque?" Often you can start a real conversation--and it costs you nothing! Cafe and Bars There are often American, Britain, Irish and Australian bars in many large cities .If you can find one, you'll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language. Language is all around you Everywhere you go, you find language .Shop names, street names ,advertisements ,notices ,and car numbers....When you walk down the street ,practise reading the words and numbers that you see .Say them to yourself .It's not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to "think" in English .But don't speak too loud! Songs and Video Repeat the words of an English-language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic. It's good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English. Above all ,speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress! According to the passage,which way is not likely to be accepted by English beginners?
<extra_id_0>Recite poems loudly along the riverside.
<extra_id_1>Listen to some English pop songs and video.
<extra_id_2>Find an Englishman to speak English with.
<extra_id_3>Take to the TV showing programmes at home.
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<extra_id_5>Tim Goes To The Beach Today was exciting. Tim's mom was taking him and his little sisters, Rebecca and Georgia, to the beach! They were going to go swimming. Then they were also going to have a picnic lunch on the beach. After their picnic lunch, Tim's mom was going to light a campfire and they were going to eat toasted marshmallows. Tim and his mom and his two little sisters hopped into the van. His little sisters were both very blonde and pretty little girls. They were only 4 years old. Because they lived in the city, they had a short drive to get to the beach. To pass the time, Tim played Eye Spy with his mother as they drove for a bit. Once they had gotten bored with Eye Spy, they played 20 Questions. Tim would think of something, and his mother would ask him questions to try and guess what it was. When they got to the beach, it was warm, and sunny. The salt water was warm, and the waves lapped up on the shore. It made a lovely noise. It also felt great on Tim's toes, and his little sisters giggled when the waves hit them. When they had had their fill of swimming, Tim's mom had them sit down to a nice dinner. They ate and ate. They ate macaroni salad. Then they ate some cold chicken. They also had lemon pie for dessert. Tim's mom started a fire, and they spent the rest of the evening as the sun set eating toasted marshmallows and singing campfire songs. Tim thought it was a very good day. Did Tim do anything to pass the time in the van during the trip?
<extra_id_0>Tim asked his sisters questions in the van.
<extra_id_1>Tim played Eye Spy, and 20 Questions with his mother in the van.
<extra_id_2>Tim did not do anything to pass the time.
<extra_id_3>Tim played Eye Spy with his sisters in the van.
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<extra_id_5>If a tree is cut down what will happen to it?
<extra_id_0>vitality extinguishing
<extra_id_1>growth
<extra_id_2>vigor
<extra_id_3>life
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>One of the most popular ways to explore Boston is on a Boston Duck Tour or a Super Duck Tour. Every spring, these vehicles take visitors to the streets and waterways of downtown and have proven to be a popular way to visit many of this city's historical sights. What Each of the two tours provides history and information about some of the city's most popular attractions, including the Prudential Tower, Faneuil Hall, the Museum of Science, the Charles River, and Boston Harbor. Where Boston Duck Tour leaves at two locations in Boston. Eighty-minute tours depart from the Prudential Center and the Museum of Science, while evening tours, lasting 50 minutes, depart from the New England Aquarium. Super Duck Tour leaves a Gate 1, the main entrance to the Charlestown Navy Yard. When Boston Duck Tour operates from late March to late November and tours depart every 30-60 minutes depending upon the season. Tours begin at 9 a.m. daily. The last tour from the Museum of Science and the Prudential Center leaves an hour before sunset. Super Duck Tour operates from late March to late December. Boston Duck Tour Adults:$32 Students/Seniors:$27 Children ages3-11:$22 Children under 3:$10 Super Duck Tour Adults:$35 Students/Seniors:$31 Children ages3-11:$23 Children under 3:$12 Super Duck Tour also offers a pair of combination packages that include next-day trolley rides and a Charles River Beat Cruise. See our web site for details. More information: To contact Boston Duck Tour,call 617-267DUCK(3825),email Info@bostonducktours.com, or visit www.bostonducktours,com. To contact Super Duck Tour, call 877-34 DUCK (343-8257), email info@ superducktours.com, or visit www.superducktours,com. The author writes this passage mainly to _ .
<extra_id_0>introduce the duck tours of Boston
<extra_id_1>encourage more and more people to visit Boston
<extra_id_2>tell readers some information about Boston
<extra_id_3>make Boston's tourism known to the world
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<extra_id_5>Which sense is used to determine an object's texture?
<extra_id_0>hearing
<extra_id_1>smell
<extra_id_2>taste
<extra_id_3>touch
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Thirdgeneration mobile phones, known as 3G, are the next big step for the telecom industry. Data speed in 3G networks is much quicker than present technology. This means users can have highspeed Internet access and enjoy video and CDquality music on their phones. "Mobile data is not a dream; it's not an option but a requirement." said Len Lauer, head of a US communications company,Sprint PCS,at a 3G conference in Bangkok earlier this month. With 3G, you can forget about text messages telling you yesterday's news; a 3G phone can receive video news programs, updated four times a day. Internet access will also be much quicker, making it easier to surf the Web on your phone than on your computer at home. Facetoface video calls And don't worry about getting lost. 3G phones offer map services so you can find a new restaurant just by pressing a few keys on your handset. However, the most impressive part of 3G technology is video calling. With live twoday video communication, you can have facetoface talks with friends and family on your mobile phone. Many European countries have already launched the service. In May 2000 the US Government issued five licenses to run 3G wireless services, while the first 3G phones arrived in Italy in March this year. International telecom companies can't wait to sell 3G in China, the world's largest mobile telecommunications market. But they will have to be patient. At the moment, China is busy testing its 3Gbased technologies, networks and services. This will be followed by a trial period before the phones can finally hit the shops. "We need to create a pool of 3G customers before the largescale commercial launch of the service." said Fan Yunjun, marketing manager for Beijing Mobile. "We expect that the 3G licenses will be issued late next year. " What does Len Lauer want to inform the readers?
<extra_id_0>Realizing the dream of mobile data based on the application of 3G is a must.
<extra_id_1>There is no need to send messages since 3G can receive video news programs.
<extra_id_2>3G is supposed to own all the functions that a computer has.
<extra_id_3>It is a choice to carry mobile data with 3G phones.
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<extra_id_5>College provides an important platform for the future professional life.The grades speak well about the kind of student you are and will also determine the chances of further studies.You cannot do all things at one time.At time you need to decide what to do according to their importance.This is one good skill that you will be requiring even after graduation. There are few tips to help you at college: Just find the place where you will not be disturbed.Grab your reading material,note pad, pen and other necessities.Distraction is a biggest hurdle in focusing.You need to ask yourself what distracts you the most.Is it music from the neighbors,presence of someone at home, internet or anything else? Try to be aware of your weakest points and then stay away from them as much possible during your study time.The distraction may also include your friends and some other things.It is only you who can decide that what is best for you. When you are ready for studying,then arrange the reading material and decide what things you need to study first.Put maximum time on your weak and major subjects.Set aside your minor ones for few hours as you know that these are comparatively less important than the majors. Make a realistic study plan which you can follow and stick to it.There is no point of making all 8hr study schedule daily as you know that it's not possible for you.Start the preparation at least 4 weeks before the exams. While making a study plan,don't forget the breaks after every 90minutes of study.It will help your eyes to relax and focus in an effective manner.Make a checklist of small milestones and put this on your table so you can see them frequently.When you are done with one or more cross them from the list and focus on the new ones. By"Put maximum time on your weak and major subjcots.",the author suggests _ .
<extra_id_0>you should devote more energy on what you like
<extra_id_1>you should focus on weak and important points
<extra_id_2>you should select the subjects you're interested in
<extra_id_3>you should give up something beyond your abilities
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<extra_id_5>Which of the following would be most useful for calculating the density of a rock sample?
<extra_id_0>microscope and balance
<extra_id_1>graduated cylinder and balance
<extra_id_2>microscope and graduated cylinder
<extra_id_3>beaker and graduated cylinder
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<extra_id_5>Two processes are involved in the formation of a sand dune. Which two processes best describe how a sand dune forms?
<extra_id_0>wind erosion then deposition
<extra_id_1>plate movement then deposition
<extra_id_2>wind erosion then water erosion
<extra_id_3>water erosion then plate movement
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<extra_id_5>My favourite quilt is always on my bed. Even in warm weather. It is not a large quilt but very beautiful: made up of many brightly color1ed woolen squares of every imaginable color1--red, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, cream. From the start, I loved this quilt. Just to look at it is to feel comforted. How many years have passed since my mother gave the quilt to me and my husband Ray Smith? I can only guess: thirty years? thirty-five? The beautiful little quilt in all the color1s of the rainbow has followed me from one house to another. The same bed, in different bedrooms in different houses in different periods of my life. In this most recent period, the quilt is laid on my bed in a house in Princeton, New Jersey, into which I moved in 2009. My mother visited this house. When she'd visited Ray and me in my former home, less than five minutes from this house, Mom had always helped out in the garden; we would garden together, and we would prepare meals together, while my father, a gifted amateur pianist, played my piano in the living room. Whenever my parents came to visit us, my mother would bring gifts for us: mostly items she had knitted, or sewn. For years, I wore dresses and jackets my mother had sewn. There is nothing so comforting as wearing clothes your mother has sewn or knitted for you. In February 2008 when my husband was in hospital, and after he died unexpectedly a week later, often I lay in bed too exhausted to move, beneath the rainbow-color1ed quilt. The bed became my shelter, and my "nest". My mother's quilt made me realize how love lasts in the most comforting way. We desire comfort, but comfort can come to us from only a few sources. I know that I have been very fortunate. I never stop giving thanks to my wonderful parents who gave me their love, for this quilt on my bed, as special and beautiful in 2013 as it was in the late 1970s. The author's favourite quilt _ .
<extra_id_0>is made of cotton
<extra_id_1>is a color1ful one
<extra_id_2>has accompanied her for more than 40 years
<extra_id_3>always reminds her of Ray Smith
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<extra_id_5>On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. Experts said the goal was admirable, but the method would not work. They were proved wrong. The Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are. Forty years later, Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. And it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere. Today, Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week, five times a day. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every weekday about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms. Three elements make Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. Special English is written in short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of Standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects. Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students' ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of Special English materials for student use. What kind of English is spoken on Special English?
<extra_id_0>British English.
<extra_id_1>American English.
<extra_id_2>Both British and American English.
<extra_id_3>Not certain.
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<extra_id_5>Menu HAMBURGERS DRINKS Chicken $5.50 Orange juice $1.50 Egg $3.40 Coke $3.00 Fish $4.80 Coffee $5.50 Beef $6.20 Tea $2.00 RICE DESSERTS Fried $3.50 Ice cream $2.50 With meat $5.70 Apple pie $4.50 With eggs $4.20 Fruit $3.50 With vegetables $3.90 Chocolate $6.00 Where do we often see a menu?
<extra_id_0>In a hospital.
<extra_id_1>In a restaurant.
<extra_id_2>In a supermarket.
<extra_id_3>In a school.
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<extra_id_5>If I had known the following things when I was in high school, my life would have been 100% easier back then and probably would have helped me greatly. I realized some of these things I was told but being young and ignorant I refused to listen. 1.Your high school sweetheart will probably not be your spouse. When I was in school, I thought my boyfriend and I were the "one and only true love". Honestly as most young people do, statistically only like 2% of people end up marrying their high school sweethearts and even if they do they probably won't be as happy as they were in high school. Being an adult is very stressful and your relationships become different. 2. _ How many kids play sports per year? How many kids are good enough to get a scholarship by playing sports? How many of them even make it to the Olympics after college or university? The kids who actually stay at home and focus on getting good at computers or math are the ones who make the most in the adult world financially. 3. It doesn't matter what university you go to. I was convinced I was going to go to a great art school when I graduated and I was so stressed out about it that I ended up dropping out of school. In reality my life wasn't over; I only got my GED a year ago but I am in a decent school now. In the real world when you go to apply somewhere all they care about is "do you have a degree or a certification"? 4. Your friends probably won't be your friends after you graduate. I really thought I was going to get an apartment with my friends and our kids were going to grow up together. The truth is, when people grow up they move, have kids, get married, and therefore change. You will change; you will not be the same person you were. High school is just a transitional period of your life. So don't worry about who is saying what about you or who is making fun of whom. The writer once dropped out of a college because _ .
<extra_id_0>she decided to marry her sweetheart
<extra_id_1>she was bearing too much pressure
<extra_id_2>her family was going through financial problems
<extra_id_3>she was offered a good job before graduation
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<extra_id_5>Move over Psy. There's a new viral music video on the Internet that's getting millions of people dancing and laughing. Psy is a singer who created Gagnam Style, a music video which featured a catchy tune and interesting dance. The new music video called The Fox (What does the fox say?) has recently gone viral. At 123 000 000 views, it may even catch up to Gagnam Style. The video asks the question, "What does the fox say?" It's a good question. And it seems, at least according to the music video, there is no good answer. Actors in the video dress up like the animals they're singing about. One of the brothers dresses up like a fox. There is a surprising and silly dance in the video that takes the viewer a bit _ . The video's appeal is the song's simple rhythm and catchy chorus . The makers of the video never expected the video to do well or even to be taken seriously. In fact, it started out as a joke. The song was written by two brothers from Norway, Vegard and Bard Ylvis ker. The brothers have their own late-night talk show in Norway. They thought the video would be so bad that it would give them something to talk about on their show. On their website, they say the video was "supposed to entertain a few Norwegians for three minutes -- and that's all." But people started loving it. Some people say that once you listen to the delightfully silly song, you want to listen to it again and again. The brothers have been guests on some major North American talk shows. They say they're happy about the success of their video, but they know that tomorrow something else could come along and be even bigger. It can be inferred from the passage that nowadays most people _ .
<extra_id_0>like to enjoy music with simple and easy style.
<extra_id_1>have difficulty in understanding the viral movie music.
<extra_id_2>are working hard for the advancement of classic music.
<extra_id_3>are tired of many music videos which are popularized through Internet too quickly.
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<extra_id_5>Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide all the power. One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power. Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn , then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long. Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage?
<extra_id_0>The first sentence of the first paragraph.
<extra_id_1>The first sentence of the second paragraph.
<extra_id_2>The first sentence of the third paragraph.
<extra_id_3>The last sentence of the second paragraph.
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<extra_id_5>Can you understand the following words? "Long time no see." "Good good study, day day up." "I like your smile, but unlike you put your shoes on my face." Yes, we call these examples Chinglish, like "people mountain, people sea". Chinglish usually means English vocabulary with Chinese grammar on street signs or products. However, many English speaking tourists love them. Tom has been living in Beijing for years. "I think many Chinese people dislike Chinglish. But I love it. It's quite interesting. I think if the translations of English in China are all perfect, something will be lost from Chinese culture." However, Chinglish will probably become a part of history in future. Beijing has made a plan to correct Chinglish within five years. "It is so funny to see Chinglish on the signs. And they are a kind of trouble for communication between the Chinese and foreigners," a Beijinger said. However, some people in China like Chinglish. They think that English has "borrowed" a lot from other languages such as German, French and Spanish in the past, and now as Chinese's turn. Some people, who love Chinglish, think that it is fine for English to borrow something from _ .
<extra_id_0>French
<extra_id_1>Chinese
<extra_id_2>Spanish
<extra_id_3>German
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<extra_id_5>More than one million children in the United States do not go to school. Instead, they learn at home. Most often, their parents are their teachers. Educational companies, libraries and the Internet provide many families with teaching materials. Parents choose home schooling for several reasons. Some choose it because of their religious beliefs. Others say it provides more time for the family to be together. They say the home offers a better place for learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids problems of _ schools. Critics, however, say children need to attend school with other children. All fifty American states and the District of Columbia permit home schooling. Some states do not require much preparation by parents or testing of children. Other states have more requirements for home schooling. Home schooling in the United States began when the country was established. In farm areas, people often lived far from a school. Widespread home schooling took place until about the middle of the nineteenth century. Then, in 1852, the state of Massachusetts passed the first law requiring children to attend school. Over the years, the American public education system strengthened and grew. By the 1960s and 1970s, however, some Americans believed that traditional education was not helping their children. So a number of parents began home schooling. Home schooling expert Linda Dobson says many people have helped the movement grow. She says many kinds of people have joined the movement. These include rich people and poor people. They represent many races, religions and political beliefs. Ms. Dobson says the number of home-schooled children has increased an estimated fifteen to twenty percent each year during the last fifteen years. Home schooling was started in _ .
<extra_id_0>the 1960s
<extra_id_1>the 1970s
<extra_id_2>the 1850s
<extra_id_3>the 1776
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<extra_id_5>Travelling abroad for leisure is becoming more and more popular for Chinese. The UK is high up in the list of places that the Chinese want to visit. There is a sense of mystery about the UK; it's often the images of England's green parks, countryside and Victorian houses that people point to as an alternative to polluted, overcrowded cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou. The capital is viewed as modern and dynamic, while being filled deep with history. When asked what other images are thought of by the UK, the reply is often "the Queen, tea and Oxbridge". So what's stopping them actually coming? Sebastian Wood ,the British ambassador in Beijing, has described the UK as a _ , and while this is perhaps an exaggeration ,Britain does have a reputation as a country that is harder to access. The main problem for Chinese tourists is obvious. Although visa applications are now completed online, visitors are still required to visit one of 12 UK centers across the country for a face-to-face interview and fingerprinting. If you don't live near one of these enters already, you'd have to travel some distance to get there. Another problem is also to be mentioned. If travelers from China visit the UK, they also want to cover as much ground as possible. But the UK is not included in the Schengen visa, which allows access to a host of 26 European countries such as France and Germany. So it makes the former seem a less worth it. There is also the issue of cost: PS47 for a Schengen visa, PS82 for the UK. On top of this, the UK is viewed as stricter in its handing of visas compared with the rest of Europe, fed by urban legends of rejected applications. In the end, the decision comes down to one question: Is Britain worth a visit? What can a visitor do if he gets a Schengen visa?
<extra_id_0>He can only visit the UK.
<extra_id_1>He can only visit 26 European countries.
<extra_id_2>He can visit the UK and France.
<extra_id_3>He can travel to any country he likes.
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<extra_id_5>Once upon a time a married couple celebrated their 25th marriage anniversary . They had become famous in the city for not having a single _ in the period of 25 years. Local newspaper editors had gathered at the occasion to find out the secret of their well known "happy going marriage". The editor asked, " Sir. It's amazingly unbelievable. How did you make this possible?" The husband, recalling his old honeymoon days, said, "We had been to Switzerland for honeymoon after marriage. Having selected the horse riding finally, we both started the ride on different horses. My horse was pretty okay but the horse on which my wife was riding seemed to be a crazy one. On the way ahead, that horse jumped suddenly, making my wife fall off. Standing up from the ground, she patted the horse's back and said ' This is your first time'. She again climbed the horse and continued with the ride. After a while, it happened again. This time she again kept calm and said ' This is your second time' and continued. When the horse dropped her the third time, she silently took out the gun from the purse and shot the horse deadl I shouted at my wife, ' What did you do? You killed the poor animal. Are you crazy?' She gave me a silent look and said, ' This is your first timel ' " The husband added, "That's it. We are happy ever after. " ,. Why did the editor want to interview the couple?
<extra_id_0>Because they had an accident.
<extra_id_1>Because they have never argued after marriage.
<extra_id_2>Because they had an ordinary marriage anniversary.
<extra_id_3>Because they saved a horse when they were on honeymoon.
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<extra_id_5>If practicing an attitude of gratitude during the storms of life is too much for you right now, that's OK. When things are tough, most people have a hard time being thankful. They're so caught up in what's wrong in the present moment that they simply can't see some things are still right. If that's true for you, then accept it. You're going through a particularly difficult or unhappy period of time, and you don't like it one bit. Very normal, very human. But remember this: there is always something to be grateful for. It maybe only a small comfort right now, but it is a start. Make a list of some of the terrible things that didn't happen. For example: *You're in debt...but you're not homeless. *You lost your job...but you didn't lose your health. *You broke your leg...but you didn't break your neck. *Your mother has Alzheimer's disease...but your father doesn't. No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse. Start finding gratitude for what might have happened, but didn't. It does help a lot. Of course, you may not be thankful for everything-- but you can always be thankful for something. How many "terrible things that didn't happen" are listed in this passage?
<extra_id_0>Two.
<extra_id_1>Three.
<extra_id_2>Four.
<extra_id_3>Five.
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<extra_id_5>Here's a movie--a sharp, sugar-rush of fun that's guaranteed to entertain the entire family. With some terrific computer-generated effects, a great cast and a fun-packed storyline, Robots is the best animated film since The Incredibles. Yep, it really is that good. Set in a world populated by robots, Ewan McGregor plays Rodney Copperbottom, a young robot who leaves his small-town home to pursue his dream of becoming an inventor. But after arriving in Robot City, his hopes of getting a job at Bigweld Industries are destroyed when he learns the firm has been taken over by the evil Ratchet (Greg Kinnear). Egged on by his controlling mum, Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent), Ratchet plans to reduce half of Robot City's citizens to scrap metal by refusing to sell the spare parts they need to survive. Instead, he wants to make a fortune selling expensive upgrades that few can afford. As he says, "Why be you when you can be new?" Aided by a few misfit robots known as the Rustles--including Robin Williams as the cowardly' Fender ("I'm made of a metal called Afraidium")--Rodney must track down the firm's founder, Bigweld (Mel Brooks), and convince him to save the city from Ratchet's plans. The first thing that'll strike you about the movie is the thought that's gone into creating Robot City. It's a wondrous world full of mechanical marvels including wind-up cars and walking streetlamps. Also terrific are the special effects. This might be an animated movie but at times you'll catch yourself thinking it's really a live-action film. Of course, there have been plenty of animated movies that looked the part but were let down by a weak storyline (see Shark Tale, for example). But Robots grips right from the start thanks to a heart-warming and thoroughly engaging plot that never bores. My only complaints are with Williams who, as usual,has a one-in-10 success rate with his jokes. Also a letdown is a romantic subplot between Rodney and a shapely robot called Cappy (Halle Berry) that doesn't go anywhere. Complains aside, this is a mechanical marvel that'll have you bolted firmly to your seat. BEST QUOTE : Fender: "Even though you had a discouraging day, just remember there's another one coming tomorrow." BEST BIT: Check out those amazing images. WORST BIT: Robin Williams, character does an unfunny Britney Spears dance routine. IF YOU LIKED...Ice Age, The Incredibles, Toy Story... YOU'LL LIKE THIS. This piece of writing is a _ .
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<extra_id_1>film review
<extra_id_2>movie poster
<extra_id_3>literary essay
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<extra_id_5>A study has found, spending hours playing violent video games prevents teenagers from their moral growth. It is thought that regular touch to violence and lack of contact with the outside world makes it harder for them to tell right from wrong.They also struggle to trust other people,and see the world from their viewpoints. Researchers from Brock University in Ontario found that those who spend more than three hours each day in front of the screen are particularly unlikely to have developed the ability to empathize . The Canadian researchers surveyed 109 boys and girls,aged 13 and 14,about whether they played video games,which games they liked,and how long they spent playing them.Their findings found that 88 percent of teens said they played games,and more than half admitted to playing games every day.Violent games were among the most popular. The teenagers also filled in a questionnaire designed to measure their moral development.For example,they were asked how important it is to save the life of a friend. Previous studies have suggested that a person's moral judgment goes through four phases as they grow from children and enter adulthood.By the age of 13 or 14,scientists claim young people should be entering the third stage,and be able to empathize with others and take their viewpoints into account.The research found that this stage appeared to be delayed in teenagers who regularly played violent video games. It is also thought that teenagers who play games regularly did not spend enough time in the real world to learn to take others' thoughts into consideration.Researcher Mirjana Bajovic said:"The present results indicate that some teenagers, who spent three or more hours a day playing violent video games,are deprived of such opportunities." he added:"Touch to violence in video games may influence the development of moral reasoning because violence is not only presented as acceptable but is also justified and rewarded." They concluded that rather than trying to enforce an 'unrealistic' ban on the games,parents and teachers should encourage teenagers to do charity work and take up after-school activities. What would be the result of playing violent video games?
<extra_id_0>Getting teens hard to take others into consideration.
<extra_id_1>Causing teens easier to tell right from wrong.
<extra_id_2>Helping teens make more good friends.
<extra_id_3>Making teens easy to get along with.
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<extra_id_5>The story of Madame Tussaud is as fascinating as that of the exhibition itself. From a housekeeper's daughter to a successful business woman, her life has all the marks of a Hollywood blockbuster. Madam Tussaud was born in 1761 and named Marie Grosholtz. Her father was killed in battle only two months before Mane's birth. For the first five years of her life, Marie lived in Berne with her mother, who worked as housekeeper for Dr Philippe Curtius. A doctor, with a talent for wax modeling, Curtius became her teacher. It was Curtius who opened the original wax exhibition in Paris in 1770 and introduced Marie to some famous people. At only 17, she modeled the famous writer Francois Voltaire, followed by a portrait of American statesman Benjamin Franklin when he was in Paris as US ambassador. Both figures are still on display at Madame Tussaud's, London today. Her work at Curtius successful wax exhibition led to an invitation to the court of Louis XVI and his queen. For nine years she lived at the palace of Versailles guiding the artistic education of the king's sister. Meanwhile the French Revolution was about to erupt. Aware of the political nrest,Philippe Curtius called Marie back to Paris. Marie7 s connection with the royal family made her guilty. Both she and her mother were arrested. After she was set free, Marie was forced to make death masks (a death mask is a model of a dead person's face, made by coving their face with a soft substance and letting it become hard) of executed nobles. Many were former friends at court, including her former employers, the king and queen. By 1800 Marie was married with two young children and a poor business inherited from Curtius. Madame Tussaud made the decision to take her exhibition on tour. In 1802, she left France. For the next 33 years, Madame Tussaud traveled the British Isles, exhibiting her growing collection of portraits. In those pre-television days, this was the only way most people had direct contact with the famous people of the time. The exhibition became permanently based in London in 1835, moving to its present site in Marylebone Road in 1884. Her last work, a remarkable self - portrait that is still on show, was completed only eight years before her death aged 89. Marie was arrested during the French Revolution because_.
<extra_id_0>she had worked for Dr Philippe Curtius
<extra_id_1>she had modeled the French royal family
<extra_id_2>she had worked at the place of Versailles
<extra_id_3>she had refused to make death masks
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<extra_id_5>A new age is coming.Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society.It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work.Already we're partly there, the percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World.Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise.More women are in the work force than ever before.There are more part-time jobs.More people are self-employed.But the range of the economic transformation can't be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to important new way of thinking about the nature of work itself.Long-held ideas about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers - all these are being challenged. We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead.No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip , would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots.Tomorrow's achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes.But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more valid, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth.Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write.The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else.If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information service will be superior.It will be the way you do your job. A characteristic of the new age mentioned in the passage is that _ .
<extra_id_0>the service industry mainly relies on females
<extra_id_1>manufacturing industries are steadily increasing
<extra_id_2>more people are in the service industry than before
<extra_id_3>the work in the service industry is more comfortable than that in manufacturing industry
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<extra_id_5>However important we may regard school life to be, we can't ignore the fact that children spend more time at home than in the classroom. Therefore the great influence of parents can't be ignored or discounted by the teacher. They can become strong supports of the school or they can consciously or unconsciously prevent the school from accomplishing its aims. Administrators have been aware of the need to _ the newer methods used in schools. Many principals have conducted workshops explaining such matters as the reading readiness program and developmental math. Moreover, the classroom teacher can also play an important role in explaining to parents what they should do. The informal tea and the many interviews carried on during the year, as well as new ways of reporting pupils' progress, can significantly aid the interchanged of ideas between school and home. Suppose that a father has been drilling Junior in arithmetic processes night after night. In a friendly interview, the teacher can help the parent change his method. He might be persuaded to let Junior participate in discussing he family budget, buying the food, using a measuring cup at home, setting the clock, calculating mileage on a trip and engaging in scores of other activities that have a mathematical basis. If the father follows the advice, it is reasonable to assume that he will soon realize his son is making satisfactory progress in math and at the same time, enjoying the work. Too often, however, teachers' conferences with parents are devoted to unimportant accounts of children's wrongdoing, complaints about laziness and poor work habits, and suggestions for punishments and rewards at home. What is needed is a more creative approach in which the teacher, as a professional advisor, plants ideas in parents' minds for the best use of the many hours that the child spends out of the classroom. In this way, the school and the home join forces in fostering the fullest development of youngsters' competence. What is the purpose of the schools' informal tea and interviews?
<extra_id_0>To improve the relationship between teacher and parents.
<extra_id_1>To explain to parents the change of the school curriculum.
<extra_id_2>To report students' misdoings and suggestions for punishments.
<extra_id_3>To help develop good communication between school and home.
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<extra_id_5>Franz Kafka wrote that " _ "I once shared this sentence with a class of seventh graders, and it didn't seem to require any explanation. We'd just finished John Steinbeck's novelOf Mice and Men. When we read the end together out loud in class, my toughest boy, a star basketball player, wept a little, and so did I. "Are you crying?" one girl asked, as she got out of her chair to take a closer look. "I am," I told her, "and the funny thing is I've read it many times." But they understood. When George shoots Lennie, the tragedy is that we realize it was always going to happen. In my 14 years of teaching in a New York City public middle school, I've taught kids with imprisoned parents, abusive parents, irresponsible parents; kids who are parents themselves; kids who are homeless; kids who grew up in violent neighborhoods. They understand, more than I ever will, the novel's terrible logic--the giving way of dreams to fate . For the last seven years, I have worked as a reading enrichment teacher, reading classic works of literature with small groups of students from grades six to eight. I originally proposed this idea to my headmaster after learning that a former excellent student of mine had transferred out of a selective high school--one that often attracts the literary-minded children of Manhattan's upper classes--into a less competitive setting. The daughter of immigrants, with a father in prison, she perhaps felt uncomfortable with her new classmates. I thought additional "cultural capital" could help students like her develop better in high school, where they would unavoidably meet, perhaps for the first time, students who came from homes lined with bookshelves, whose parents had earned Ph. D.'s. Along withOf Mice and Men, my groups read: Sounder, The Red Pony, Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. The students didn't always read from the expected point of view. About The Red Pony, one student said, "it's about being a man, it's about manliness. "I had never before seen the parallels between Scarface and Macbeth, nor had I heard Lady Macbeth's soliloquies read as raps , but both made sense; the interpretations were playful, but serious. Once introduced to Steinbeck's writing, one boy went on to readThe Grapes of Wrathand told me repeatedly how amazing it was that "all these people hate each other, and they're all white." His historical view was broadening, his sense of his own country deepening. Year after year, former students visited and told me how prepared they had felt in their first year in college as a result of the classes. Year after year, however, we are increasing the number of practice tests. We are trying to teach students to read increasingly complex texts, not for emotional punch but for text complexity. Yet, we cannot enrich the minds of our students by testing them on texts that ignore their hearts. We are teaching them that words do not amaze but confuse. We may succeed in raising test scores, but we will fail to teach them that reading can be transformative and that it belongs to them. The girl left the selective high school possibly because _ .
<extra_id_0>she was a literary-minded girl
<extra_id_1>her parents were immigrants
<extra_id_2>she couldn't fit in with her class
<extra_id_3>her father was then in prison
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<extra_id_5>Which would be a good example of conservation?
<extra_id_0>smoke stacks
<extra_id_1>littering
<extra_id_2>shorter showers
<extra_id_3>car travel
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<extra_id_5>Parents in three Midwestern states will soon know just how good or bad their kids' driving is when their children take the car for a spin . Starting today, American Family Insurance is offering customers with teen drivers free cameras that record what happens when a sudden change in the car's movement occurs. The cameras record the action inside and in front of the car in 20-second audio-video clips . The clips are then transmitted to Drive Cam, a prefix = st1 /San Diegocompany that analyzes the clips for risky behavior. Among things the analysts look for is the response time of the drivers and if they are paying attention to the road. Parents can receive a report on their kids' driving and view the clips on a home computer. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among U. S.teens, according to the NHTSA(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). "There will be fewer accidents," Rick Fetherston, vice president at American Family said of the new system. American Family will test the system out by offering it for free for one year to 30.000 families in Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesotato see whether the system results in fewer accidents. If the system is proven to prevent accidents, customers who volunteer to use it might see their insurance premiums drop. The company would not be viewing the videos or individual score cars, unless there is an accident. Bruce Moeller, president of Drive Cam, says his company's system is already being used by companies with lots of cars. "Some of our customers are reporting a 30% to 90% reduction in their risky driver events," Moeller says. But a lawyer in Minneapolissays. "If I felt I needed a camera in the car to watch over my kids, I shouldn't be letting them drive." American Family tested the system in two high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Megan Ireland, 17, said the camera caught her stopping too late and taking turns too fast. The student at Prior Lake High School in Savage, Minn., said she didn't like it because she felt it invaded her privacy but has warmed up to the system. "Now I don't really have a problem with it because it's made me a better driver," she says. "For real." The camera is used to _
<extra_id_0>record what the teen driver does while driving
<extra_id_1>prevent the teen drivers from speeding
<extra_id_2>reduce the insurance premiums
<extra_id_3>provide videos and score cards for the police
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<extra_id_5>Upcoming Audition(,) The Musical Sweeney Todd Executive Director: Paul German Director: Calvin Remsberg Artistic Director : Steven Glaudini Musical Director: JohnGlaudini Opening: 1 January 2011 To 14 January 2011 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach Road Audition Location: Musical Theater West ----- Reiner Rehearsal Hall 4350 East 7thStreet Long Beach Road 5(908046) Audition Date and Time: Monday,9 November 2010 11:00 a.m---5:40 p.m * by appointment only * call (65)856-1999 to make an appointment. Selected cast will be informed by 12 December 2010 upon the Director's confirmation. Preparation for the Audition: Sing the most promising and melodious song. Opera in English is acceptable. The score will be provided. Characters: Nellie Lovett: She is a comical and humorous lady in her forties with a strong high voice. Anthony Hope: He is an earnest young man in his mid-twenties with a medium voice range. Tobias Ragg: He is a teenager with a sweet and protective soul. He has high powerful singing voice. Johanna: She is an elegant beautiful young lady with a youthful sweet high voice. We are also selecting male and female supporting roles with powerful high or low singing voices, from the age of 18 and above. Note: The character Sweeney Todd has been selected. If Wendy wants to audition for the role of Nellie Lovett, she needs to _ .
<extra_id_0>be young and strong
<extra_id_1>be elegant and beautiful
<extra_id_2>have a sweet low voice
<extra_id_3>be able to make people laugh
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<extra_id_5>Bay Village Branch, 502 Cahoon Road, 440-871-6392. The Egyptian Pyramids, 7 p. m. Sept. 17. Join us as Don King, a long-time student of Egyptology, discusses the pyramids and presents the possible theories of the construction, design and mysteries surrounding these ancient wonders. Join us as local Bay Village resident, Tom Bell, discusses his book "My Dad Is a Freak: a Memoir", 7 p.m.Sept. 27. Fairview Park Branch, 21255 Lorain Road, 440-333-4700 or cuyahogalibrary. org. Dress for Success, 7 p. m. Sept. 17. First impressions count. Some job recruiters use appearance to determine self-esteem, respect, confidence and organizational skills. Learn how to dress to emphasize your strengths and improve your employ ability. Registration required. Music Study Groups, 1:15--2:45 p. m. Wednesdays, Sept. 19--Nov. 28. Explore current concert music performed by The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall through informal lectures and listening. Classes are designed for both new and experienced music lovers and are led by Dr. Rose Breckenridge. Practical Herbs, 7 p. m. Oct. 3. Famous doctor Sarah Hurt will talk about growing, drying and storing herbs and how to use them. Registration required. North Olmsted Branch, 27403 Lorain Road. 440-777-6211 or cuyahogalibrary. org. Job Club, 1:30--3 p. m. Tuesdays. Join Jim Hansen for helpful tips on resumes, job search strategies and interviewing. Anyone who is job hunting or looking to change careers is welcome. War of 1812, 7--8:45 p. m. Sept. 17. This year marks the 200thanniversary. Professor Catherine Rokicky From Cuyahoga Community College will give a presentation about the war, and immediately following we'll discuss the book "Mr. and Mrs. Madison's War: America's First Couple and the Second War of Independence" by Hugh Howard. Registration required. Olmsted Falls Library, 7850 Main St. , Olmsted Falls. 440-235-1150 or cuyahogalibrary. org. Family Story-time, 7--7:30 p. m. Wednesdays, through Nov. 27. Join us for rhymes, songs, finger-plays and a story or two. For children ages birth through age 8 with their caregivers. Huntington Practice SAT Test, 10 a. m. to 1 p. m. Sept. 15. Follow up, 4--5 p. m. Sept. 26. Get ready for college by taking a practice SAT exam. Discuss strategies to improve your score, and get tips on preparing for the real exam. Registration required. Imaginative Illustrations, 11 a. m. to noon Sept. 29. A hands-on drawing program where children exercise their imagination while experiencing some basic techniques of cartooning. Grades K-5. Registration required. If you want to learn how to educate your children, you should contact _ .
<extra_id_0>Bay Village Branch
<extra_id_1>Fairview Park Branch
<extra_id_2>North Olmsted Branch
<extra_id_3>Olmsted Falls Library
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<extra_id_5>I am an American boy. My name is Jerry Black. You can call me Jerry. I have a sister, Ginny. We are twins. But we are very different( ). I have a long face with a high nose, and she has a round face with a small nose. I like football. But she likes basketball. I like loud music. She likes light music. My father is a doctor in a hospital. My mother runs a clothing shop. We have another family member, Beibei. She is a lovely dog. She will have a puppy soon. Jerry's twin sister is _ .
<extra_id_0>Beibei
<extra_id_1>Jill
<extra_id_2>Ginny
<extra_id_3>a puppy
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<extra_id_5>Many people believe Henry Ford invented the automobile . But Henry Ford did not start to build his first car until 1896. That was eleven years after two Germans developed the world's first automobile. Many people believe Henry Ford invented the production line that moved a car's parts to the worker, instead of making the worker move to the parts. That is not true, either. Many factory owners used methods of this kind before Ford. What Henry Ford did was to use other people's ideas and make them better. And he made the whole factory a moving production line. In the early days of the automobile, almost every car maker raced his cars. It was the best way of gaining public notice. Henry Ford decided to build a racing car. Ford's most famous race was his first one. It was also the last race in which he drove the car himself. The race was in 1901, at a field near Detroit. All of the most famous cars had entered, but only two were left: the Winton and Ford's. The Winton was famous for its speed. Most people thought the race was over before it began. The Winton took an early lead. But halfway through the race, it began to lose power. Ford started to gain. And near the end of the race, he took the lead. Ford won the race and defeated the Winton. His name appeared in newspapers and he became wellknown all over the United States.Within weeks of the race, Henry Ford formed a new automobile company. In 1903, a doctor in Detroit bought the first car from the company. _ was the beginning of Henry Ford's dream. Ford said: "I will build a motor car for a great number of people. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for one person to operate and care for. It will be built of the best materials. It will be built by the best men to be employed. And it will be built with the simplest plans that modern engineering can produce. It will be so low in price that no man making good money will be unable to own one." The Model T was a car of that kind. It only cost $850. It was a simple machine that drivers could depend on. Doctors bought the Model T. So did farmers. Even criminals. They considered it the fastest and surest form of transportation. Americans loved the Model T. They wrote stories and songs about it. Thousands of Model T's were built in the first few years. Why did Henry Ford take part in the 1901 car race?
<extra_id_0>To show off his driving skills.
<extra_id_1>To draw public attention.
<extra_id_2>To learn about new technology.
<extra_id_3>To raise money for his new company.
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<extra_id_5>Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful. In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight. Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day. It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports. The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, "but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant." The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day. The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur. According to the passage, we know that _ .
<extra_id_0>the website medheadlnes.com is developed by an Indian doctor
<extra_id_1>the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor
<extra_id_2>the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania
<extra_id_3>drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases
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<extra_id_5>Going to a new school can be difficult, but this passage will help you in the beginning. Here is something to help you to fit in . First, take a day to enjoy your school. You won't fit in at school if you don't know the school. Ask for a school map. Try to get to know every corner of your new school. A good school handhook can be of great help. But to make it easy, ask the people near you where something is--tell people that you are new when you need help. Be nice to everyone. Be nice to everyone, the young or the old, because they might just be your next teacher or friend. Get to know your teachers and pay attention in class. Teachers always pay attention to new students, Talk to them and find out more about them. Never test their limits --don't go too far, or you may end up getting into trouble You need to make friends. Talk to different people. Be yourself and don't lie. This is YOUR school now, take a chance on being who you weren't at your old school. Join a few clubs or sports teams and make more friends in this way. Be yourself and be polite. Don't worry too much about what people think of you. Be true, be yourself, and be nice to everyone, no matter how mean (unfriendly) they may seem at first. It's often the "girl/boy that I didn't like at my new school" that ends up being my friend after a little while. But then again, don't be afraid to stand up for yourself if it's very clear that you should. Work hard to fit in while still being yourself. The first few weeks are always hard, but you'll soon get used to it. The passage is mainly about _ .
<extra_id_0>how to fit in when at a new school
<extra_id_1>how to make friends at a new school
<extra_id_2>how to enjoy the beauty of the school
<extra_id_3>how to be yourself at a new school
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<extra_id_5>In my second year of high school, the class was scheduled to run the mile. when the coach yelled, "Ready. Set. Go!", I rushed out like an airplane, faster than anyone else for the first 20 feet. I made up my mind to finish first. As we came around the first of four laps, there were students all over the track . By the end of the second lap, many of the students had already stopped. They had given up and were on the ground breathing heavily. As I started the third lap, only a few of my classmates were on the track. By the time I hit the fourth lap, I was alone. Then it hit me that nobody had given up. Instead, everyone had already finished. As I ran that last lap, I cried. And 12 minutes, 42 seconds after starting, I crossed the finishing line. I fell to the ground. I was very upset. Suddenly my coach ran up to me and picked me up, yelling, "You did it. Mark! You finished, son. You finished" He looked at me straight in the eyes, waving a piece of paper in his hand. It was my goal ( ) for the day which I had forgotten. I had given it to him before class. He read it aloud to everyone. It simply said, "I, Mark Brown, will finish the mile run tomorrow, come what may." My heart lifted. My tears went away, and I had a smile on my face as if I had eaten a banana. My classmates clapped. It was then I realized winning isn't always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing. Why did Mark cry when he ran the last lap?
<extra_id_0>Because he was quite happy.
<extra_id_1>Because he was too upset.
<extra_id_2>Because he got a pain in his heart.
<extra_id_3>Because he was hungry.
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<extra_id_5>Officials of the Chicago Transit Authority said they were investigating. The child, Nicole Hobson, was being taken by her mother to Children's Memorial Hospital about 11 P. M., Wednesday to check her recently inserted pacemaker. The child was stricken about a mile from the hospital. Her mother, May Hobson, 40, said, "I told the bus driver that my baby had just had heart operation and that she was having a heart failure. He said he couldn't go through the traffic." Ted Garretson, 28, a passenger who had tried to bring back Nicole's life, said the driver did nothing to help and stopped once to pick up more passengers. When the driver reached a corner where he was to make a turn, a block from the hospital, he told Mrs. Hobson to get off, she said. A transit spokesman said the driver should have made radio call to the control center for help. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
<extra_id_0>The bus driver stopped to pick up more passengers.
<extra_id_1>The bus driver said he couldn't go through the traffic.
<extra_id_2>The bus driver did nothing to help.
<extra_id_3>The bus driver sent the girl to the hospital.
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<extra_id_5>This is a picture of Kate Green's family. In the picture we can see her grandparents, herparents, her brother Mike and her. Her grandparents are on the chair. Mr Green and Mrs Greenare behind them. Mike is under the window. Kate is on the floor. What's behind Kate? It's a cat. It's black and white. What color is the cat?
<extra_id_0>White
<extra_id_1>Black
<extra_id_2>Yellow.
<extra_id_3>Black and white
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<extra_id_5>"Did you hear what happened to Adam last Friday?" Lindsey whispers to Tori. With her eyes shining, Tori brags, "You bet I did. Sean told me two days ago." What are Lindsey and Tori talking about? It just happens to be yours truly, Adam Freedman. I can tell you that what they are saying is (a) not nice and (b) not even true. Still, Lindsey and Tori aren't very different from most students here at Linton High School, including me. Many of our conversations are gossip . I have noticed three effects of gossip: it can hurt people, it can give gossipers a strange kind of satisfaction, and it can cause social pressures in a group. An important negative effect of gossip is that it can hurt the person being talked about. Usually, gossip spreads information about a topic--breakups, troubles at home, even dropping out--that a person would rather keep secret. The more embarrassing or shameful the secret is, the juicer the gossip it makes. Probably the worst type of gossip is the absolute lie. People often think of gossipers as harmless, bur cruel lies can cause pain. If we know that gossip can be harmful, then why do so many of us do it? The answer lies in another effect of gossip: the satisfaction it gives us. Sharing the latest rumor can make a person feel important because he or she knows something that others don't. Similarly, hearing the latest rumor can make a person feel like part of the "in group". In other words, gossip is satisfying because it gives people a sense of belonging or even superiority . Gossip can also have a third effect: it strengthens unwritten, unspoken rules about how people should act. Professor David Wilson explains that gossip is important in policing behaviors in a group. Translated into high school terms, this means that if everybody you hang around with is laughing at what John wore or what Jane said, then you can bet that wearing or saying something similar will get you the same kind of negative attention. The do's and don'ts conveyed through gossip will never show up in any student handbook. The effects of gossip vary depending on the situation. The next time you feel the urge to spread the latest news, think about why you want to gossip and what effects your "juicy story" might have. Professor David Wilson thinks that gossip can _ .
<extra_id_0>provide students with written rules
<extra_id_1>help people watch their own behaviours
<extra_id_2>force schools to improve student handbooks
<extra_id_3>attract the police's attention to group behaviours
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<extra_id_5>If we are asked exactly what we were doing a year ago, we should probably have to say that we could not remember. But if we had kept a book and had written it in an account of what we did each day, we should be able to give an answer to the question. It is the same in history. Many things have been forgotten because we don't have written account of them. Sometimes men did keep a record of the important happenings in their country, but it was often destroyed by fire or in a war. Sometimes there was never any written record at all because the people of that time and place did not know how to write. For example, we know a great deal about the people who lived in China 4,000 years ago, because they could write and leave written records for those who lived after them. But we know almost nothing about the people who lived even 200 years ago in central Africa because they had not learnt to write. Sometimes, even if the people cannot write, they may know something of the past. They have heard about it from older people and often songs and dances and stories have been made about the most important happenings, and those have been sung and acted and told for many generations , for most people are proud to tell what their fathers did in the past. This we may call "remembered history". Some of it has been written history because words are much more easily changed when used again and again in speech than when copied in writing. But where there are no written records, such spoken stories are often helpful. Which of the following ideas is NOT included in the passage?
<extra_id_0>"Remembered history" is less reliable than written history.
<extra_id_1>Written records of the past play an important role in our learning of the human history.
<extra_id_2>A written account of our daily activities helps us to be able to answer many questions.
<extra_id_3>If there are no written records, there is no history.
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<extra_id_5>Mr. and Mrs. Green had different ideas about where to go that weekend. Mrs. Green wanted to go to Florida to see her sister, but Mr. Green didn't want to go there. He wanted to go to Maine. "Maine is a little cold," said Mrs. Green. "I like swimming, but the water in Maine is usually not warm enough." "Florida's too far," said Mr. Green. " We don't have enough time to drive there. It'll take us more than two days." Just then, the phone rang. Mr. Green answered the phone. It was Mr. Green's mother. "Please come in the shortest time. I need help. I'm calling from the hospital in Boston." They stopped their talking, and in no time they both went away. Where did they go at last?
<extra_id_0>Maine.
<extra_id_1>Florida.
<extra_id_2>Boston.
<extra_id_3>To their home.
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<extra_id_5>Q: My daughter is a junior in high school and has been on an individualized education program since fourth grade. She plans to go to college and intends to finish with a master's degree. Her performance in general is fairly good, but test scores are very low. She has held many leadership and volunteer positions. We have been advised to have her write an essay about how her learning disability is a barrier that she has to get over. Will that help or hurt her chances for admission? ---- Deborah A: First let me answer the question on low standardized test scores (ACT/SAT). There are hundreds of colleges that are "test optional" which means students can choose not to release their test scores in the application process. Admission decisions at these colleges for students who do not submit their test scores are made based on other factors. A list of test optional colleges can be found at fairtest.org. It is important, however, to make sure that the college is the right fit academically regardless of the test optional policy. You also asked if your daughter should write about her disability and if this would hurt her chances of being admitted. Please know that colleges do not deny admission based on disability. "Disclosing" a learning disability in a personal statement within the college application can certainly help. By writing a personal statement, students can potentially _ , for example, their understanding of the challenge they face. They might also prove an improved grade trend in that subject area, and show interest in more complex courses in spite of this disability. More importantly, a student disclosure can show self-confidence, motivation and an understanding of the disability. ---- Ms. Kravis What do we know about Deborah's daughter?
<extra_id_0>She is applying for a master's degree.
<extra_id_1>She is very active in her high school.
<extra_id_2>Her disability prevents her studying well.
<extra_id_3>She has difficulty getting over her learning disability.
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<extra_id_5>When people imagine a classroom, they usually think of older people teaching younger ones. But when it comes to learning about high-technology devices, the opposite can often be true. A training program called the 50 Plus Center in the eastern American city of Columbia, Maryland offers free technology classes to adults over 50. The training program also offers many other kinds of lectures from Qigong and Tai Chi to yoga and Latin jam dance. There are a lot of exercise programs including playing cards and physical exercises where many people just relax and spend some time together. Myra Stafford is 73 years old. She signed up for the class to learn how to use her iPad. She is learning quickly with the help of the young and she enjoys learning from them. She says she is more confident today than she was before. Working with young people makes her feel wonderful because they don't make her feel that she is old or dumb. Eleven-year-old Zhion Perekins is a teacher of the technology class. He says some of the older adults know nothing about high-technology devices and they are very anxious, so patience is very important when working with them. He gains more than just social skills from teaching older residents. He has learned a lot on how to communicate with people. He used to be a shy person, but now he has become outgoing. There is a huge growing population over 60. The training program offers an opportunity for the old people to buy products online using high-technology devices. As senior citizens get more excited about what they want to buy, it is likely that they will go into the market and buy it, so that could lead to an increase in economy. What's the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>A program called the 50 Plus Center
<extra_id_1>Teens teach the old about high-technology
<extra_id_2>How to help the senior citizens shop online
<extra_id_3>The old learn to use high-technology devices
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<extra_id_5>People enjoy taking trips. But what are the reasons they leave home? One reason is for education. People travel because they want to learn more about other people and other places. They are curious about other cultures. When people are tourists, they get a quick look at different ways of living. Even a short look at another kind of lifestyle is an important lesson. On a trip, a person can learn directly by visiting museums and historic spots. What does a tourist learn who sees the art museums, visits the historical palaces and other scenic spots in Paris and shops along the River Seine? He gets a vivid picture, a real life of one of the French people. He learns about their attitudes , how they feel about business, beauty and history. What about the tourist who goes to Hong Kong? Does he get the same information that he could get from a book? He might read that Hong Kong is crowded, that there is less than 200 square meters of space for each person. But seeing and feeling the lack of space will impress him much more. He might read that there are nearly 200 vehicles for every kilometer of roadway. But the sight of so many vehicles parked along the roadside would be a much more vivid lesson. The tourist to Hong Kong will never forget the contrasts(,): the straight vertical lines of tall modern buildings and the moving lines of boats that people live in. What impression will a tourist get of Hong Kong?
<extra_id_0>It has many big and beautiful parks.
<extra_id_1>It is very crowded.
<extra_id_2>It has many historical spots.
<extra_id_3>It is an important industrial center.
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<extra_id_5>Gavin Joseph, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, was beaten up by a group of people for just being different. Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize. But instead of putting them into prison for what they did to him, Gavin offered them a chance to become more tolerant and understanding. On Thursday night, some kids were talking about how "it's weird " that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and it was "creepy" that he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know. On Friday night, another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that. He didn't ask questions, didn't get to know Gavin, never met him, and didn't give him a chance to leave. Gavin was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched , and left lying on the pavement so he would "learn his lesson". Gavin emerged from the attack with a concussion , a fractured nose, a bruised esophagus and some damage to his eyes, but thankfully, none of the injuries resulted in permanent damage. But here's the truly amazing part -- Gavin refused to press charges against the people who did this to him. Instead of wanting to see them punished, he wants to see them educated. Gavin asked that his attackers do community service that is disability-related. According to his mother, Gavin also asked that they watch a 20-minute video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective. "If you are reading this, I hope you talk to your teens," his mother wrote. "Tell them about disabilities you can't see, teach them to be tolerant of people that are different, teach them that if they continuously see someone alone that maybe it is not their choice to be alone, remind them to ask questions first and get to know one another." How did Gavin react to his injuries?
<extra_id_0>He fought back bravely.
<extra_id_1>He was too scared to react.
<extra_id_2>He decided to turn to court for help.
<extra_id_3>He wanted to see the attackers educated.
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<extra_id_5>Every culture in the world has marriage and wedding ceremonies . Usually marriages are between one woman(the bride) and one man ( the groom). However, in other parts of the world a man may have several wives, or, as in some areas of India, a wife may have more than one husband.. There are also many different kinds of wedding ceremonies practiced around the world. These ceremonies can be very short and simple, or very long and complicated. One of the largest and most expensive wedding ceremonies in recent times was held in Dubai in 1981. The couple tying the knot at this wedding were the son of Sheik ( a male Arab ruler) Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Princess Salama. The wedding ceremony took seven days and cost $44 million. It was held in a large building which was specially built for the ceremony and looked like a stadium. The bride and groom needed a large place for their wedding because more than 20,000 guests were invited. The reasons why a man and woman get married also vary. Sometimes they marry because they are in love, sometimes they marry because someone they meet through a matchmaker, and sometimes they marry because their parents tell them that they must marry. One unusual example of an arranged marrige took place in Bangladesh in 1986. The groom was an eleven-month-old boy and the bride was a three-month-old girl. They were the youngest married couple ever. The parents of the bride and groom arranged the marriage as a way of ending a fight between the two families who had been arguing over a farm for twenty years. Both families thought they owned the farm, but no one knew exactly . The fight ended for good when the young boy married the young girl. By arranging this marriage, neither famlily was forced to lose face. The two families agreed to give the farm to the young people. Why did the families in Bangladesh make their children get married?
<extra_id_0>The children were in love
<extra_id_1>The families wanted to end the fight
<extra_id_2>The families wanted to buy a farm.
<extra_id_3>The bride's family wanted to sell their farm.
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<extra_id_5>Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them could increase the spread of bacteria, and rubbing your hands while using a traditional hand dryer could be a contributing factor, according to new research. The research looked at different methods of hand drying, and their effects on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces. The different methods included paper towels, traditional hand dryer, and a new model of hand dryer, which rapidly blows water from the hands. Our bodies naturally have bacteria all over them. However, bacteria from other sources, such as raw meat, can also survive on hands. They can be easily transferred to other surfaces, increasing the risk of cross-contamination . When the hands are washed, the number of the bacteria on the surface of the skin decreases, but they are not necessarily _ . If the hands are still damp then these bacteria are more readily transferred to other surfaces. The researchers quantified the effects of hand drying by measuring the number of bacteria on the hands before and after different drying methods. Volunteers were asked to wash their hands and palce them onto contact plates, which were then incubated to measure bacteria growth. The volunteers were then asked to dry their hands using either hand towels or one of the two hand dryers, with or without rubbing their hands together, and levels of bacteria were re-measured. The researchers found that rubbing the hands together while using traditional hand dryers could cancel out the reduction in bacteria numbers following hand washing. When hands are rubbed together during drying, bacteria that live within the skin can be brought to the surface and transferred to other surfaces, along with surface bacteria that were not removed by hand washing. A resaecher says, "Good hand hygiene should include drying your hands thoroughly and not just washing . The best method of drying your hands id using paper towels or using a hand dryer which doesn't require you to rub your hands together." The research maily tells us _ .
<extra_id_0>why washing our hands is important
<extra_id_1>what pose we should hold when washing our hands
<extra_id_2>it's important to dry our hands properly after washing
<extra_id_3>how to stop the transfer of bacteria when washing our hands
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<extra_id_5>John Blanchard was studying the crowd making their way through the station. He was looking for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn' t, the girl with the rose. When reading a book in a Florida library a year before, John became interested not in the contents of the book, but in the notes penciled in the margin . The handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and beautiful mind. He discovered the former owner' s name in the front of the book: Miss Hollis Maynell. He located her address and wrote a letter introducing himself. The next day he was shipped overseas to serve in the army. During the next year, they grew to know each other through the mail and their friendship developed. John requested a photograph, but she refused, saying if he really cared, it wouldn' t matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return home, their first meeting was suggested--7:00 pm. at the Grand Central Station in New York. She wrote," You' ll recognize me by the red rose I wear on my coat. "So now John was in the station to meet the girl with a rose. As a pretty and slim girl in green came over, John noticed her blue eyes like flowers in spring. He walked directly towards her , entirely forgetting she was not wearing a rose. As John came closer to her, he saw another woman with a red rose stood nearby. Well past 40, this woman had graying hair done under a worn hat. Seeing the girl in green walk quickly away, John felt as if he were split in two. He desired to follow that girl, but longed for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and supported him. The woman looked gentle and sensible. John went to her, saying, "1' m Captain John Blanchard. You must be Miss Maynell. I am glad to meet you here. May I take you to dinner?" She replied with a smile, I don' t know what this is about. But the lady in green who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if you asked me out to dinner, l' d tell you she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" John was eager to know the former owner of the book because_.
<extra_id_0>he was very interested in the contents of the book
<extra_id_1>he was impressed by the notes written by the owner
<extra_id_2>the book offered him practical and valuable advice
<extra_id_3>there was address of the former owner in the book
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<extra_id_5>The Great Fire of London started in the very early hours of September 2,1666.In four days it destroyed more than three quarters of the old city,where most of those houses were built out of wood and close together.One hundred thousand people became homeless but only few lost their lives.The fire started on Sunday moring.By eight o'clock three hundred houses were on fire.On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames.Tuesday was the worst day.The fire destroyed many well-known buildings. The fire stopped only when the king finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire.With nothing left to burn,the fire became weak and finally died out. What day die the Great Fire happen in London?
<extra_id_0>Sunday.
<extra_id_1>Monday.
<extra_id_2>Tuesday.
<extra_id_3>Wednesday.
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<extra_id_5>In Kenya, educational and career opportunities are almost non-existent for people born with physical challenges. They face many forms of discrimination -- including beliefs that their condition was caused by a curse. But one father whose son Brain was born deaf, mute and blind aims to change all that. Joseph Shiroko started a school four years ago that teaches students who can not hear, speak and who have very low or no vision a wide range of skills to support themselves. The baby clothes the students knit are well known in the local community. And the school has developed a reputation for its dried smoked meat products. Brain Resource Center, a boarding school, teaches deaf and blind young Kenyans from across the country a variety of skills they can use to earn a living. "We have a number of philosophies that inform what we are doing: accepting these people; loving them; giving them opportunities." said founder Joseph Shiroko. Teachers, most of whom are graduates from the school or are themselves physically challenged, work with students. Mary Kerubo, 22, has a passion for knitting sweaters, which she plans to continue in her village. "I feel comfortable here because Sween -- my teacher understands me," said Kerubo. "Even if I do not see well, she always repeats her lessons again and again so that I may understand how to make sweaters. I know I will make it." Kerubo's teacher, Sween Lyaka, was among the first graduates of Brain Resource Center four years ago. She says her students have a lot of unrecognized potential. Sween says in the future, she plans to purchase four sewing machines that she will use to teach students and produce and sell sweaters in her home village. The center also works with students' families to set up projects that will continue after the students graduate. Founder Joseph Shiroko's son, Brain, was the inspiration behind Brain Resource Center. The senior Shiroko says he began the school initially as a project to teach Brain bakery skills. The family later expanded Brain's training and brought in other young people with similar physical conditions. What's the main idea of the passage?
<extra_id_0>There are non-existent opportunities for the disabled in Kenya.
<extra_id_1>Joseph Shiroko started a new school four years ago.
<extra_id_2>Brian Resource Centre teaches the disabled skills to support themselves.
<extra_id_3>The baby clothes the disabled students knit are well-known in Kenya.
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<extra_id_5>I'm sure many of you have seen Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Multiplicity, or many of the other movies that describe cloning. Most of what you see in these movies is false. What you don't know is that cloning could be dangerous, to the clone and to our society as a whole. I think human cloning is wrong mainly for four reasons. What about identity? Humans are promised the right to their own personalities. What would happen if we ignore those rights by giving them someone else's genetic identity? True, Cloning may prevent people from possessing their identities. Also, these is a large power struggle here. Cloning means a degree of power and controls over another person's physical identity and that ignores their rights and their only personalities. The person doing the cloning would have more power than any parent would have. Cloning would also deal with killing embryos . You might not have known, but Dolly, the sheep that was cloned in 1996, was one of over 200 sheep embryos and hers was the only embryo that survived. The rest died or were thrown away. Imagine if the failure rate was that high when we started to clone humans. cloning means running the risk of wasting too much effort Cloning someone, at this present time, would be extremely dangerous to the birth mother and the clone. In studies done on cows, 4 out of 12 birth mothers died. There is a very high failure rate, which is shown in the cloning of Dolly. Even if you had a few good embryos, failures have been noticeable in animal tests. So, should we work ahead in the world of cloning? I say no. the risks are greater than the benefits. It's dangerous to the clone and to the birth mother. We would be killing human lives in the process. It would also be a violation of the clone's right to its own genetic identity and personality. According to the article, what is the author's opinion about identity?
<extra_id_0>Cloning itself gives parents great power over identity.
<extra_id_1>People's identity is completely determined by their genes.
<extra_id_2>Government has the rights to confirm people's identities.
<extra_id_3>Cloning may prevent people from possessing their identities.
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<extra_id_5>New York: When the first plane struck 1 World Trade Center at 8:48 am on Tuesday, the people in 2 World Trade Center who saw the instant damage to the other tower realized clearly what they, too, must do: get out fast. Katherine Ilachinsiki, who had been knocked off her chair by the blast of heat exploding from the neighboring tower, was one of those. Despite her 70 years of age, Mrs Ilachinsiki, an architect working on the 91 floor of 2 World Trade Center, the south tower, went for the stairs. Twelve floors above her, Judy Wein, an executive , cried sharply and set off too. But others up and down the 110 floors, many without seeing the damage across the way and thus unclear about what was happening, were not so sure. And the 18 minutes before the next plane would hit were ticking off. Most people had no idea about what was the best thing to do, formal announcements inside the south tower asked people to , assuring them that the building was sound and the threat was limited to the other tower. Some left, others stayed. Some began to climb down and, when met with more announcements and other cautions to stop or return, went back up. The decisions made in those instants proved to be of great importance, because many who chose to stay were killed completely when the second plane crashed into the south tower. One of those caught in indecision was the executive at Fuji Bank USA. Richard Jacobs of Fuji Bank left the 79 floor with the other office workers, but on the 48 floor they heard the announcement that the situation was under control. Several got in the lifts and went back up, two minutes or so before the plane crashed into their floor. "I just don't know what happened to them," Mr Jacobs said. Which floor was hit by the second plane?
<extra_id_0>The 91
<extra_id_1>The 103
<extra_id_2>The 60
<extra_id_3>The 79
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<extra_id_5>Terry Thomas has a very boring job ,although it pays very well .What Terry does is sitting in a rowboat all day long .He makes $ 16.37 an hour ,which is certainly an excellent wage for sitting in a little boat and doing nothing. The boat stays all day under a bridge that is being rebuilt. There is a distance of about 100 feet between the boat and the workers on the bridge overhead. The rest of Terry's fellow workers are up on the bridge working. Terry's job is to rescue anyone who falls off the bridge into the water. So far, no one has given him anything to do .Although he's delighted that none of his companions has fallen into the water, he also admits that the job is very boring because there is nothing to do. No one on the work crew really wants duty on the boat. But the job is a union requirement, and it must be filled. To quality for the job, a person must be an excellent swimmer and have training in lifesaving skills. Only a few men on the work crew meet those standards. Before Terry took the boat job, several others had it and gave up because they found it so tedious. What does Terry do in his little boat all day? He spends a good bit of time making sure that his suntan lotion is adequate for the job of protecting his skin. He reads and listens to the radio .Each day he looks forward to lunch and then to quitting time. What's the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>A Boring Job
<extra_id_1>The Man in a Rowboat
<extra_id_2>A Job of Great Skill
<extra_id_3>Hard Physical Labor
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<extra_id_5>It is April 10. It is Tuesday. Cindy gets up at 6:30 in the morning. She is in her blue skirt. She really likes that skirt. Then she goes into the kitchen. She loves eggs and apples in the morning. Cindy's mother is a teacher at her school. Cindy is in the second grade , and her mother teaches the fourth grade. Cindy is excited about going to school today because her class has a test . Cindy loves school and she likes to get good grades . Cindy eats her breakfast and then she and her mother go to school. Cindy goes to her classroom and her history teacher, Ms. Brown is there. It is fun to be in Ms. Brown's class. She is a great teacher. Now Cindy's classmates are all in the classroom, and they start the test. Cindy remembers everything, so she can do everything right. After the test, Cindy and her classmates play for a long time. Then they eat lunch. After lunch, they watch a funny movie . Then they draw pictures. It is really a great day! What does Cindy like to eat for breakfast?
<extra_id_0>Eggs and apples.
<extra_id_1>Milk and bananas.
<extra_id_2>Eggs and carrots.
<extra_id_3>Chicken and apples.
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<extra_id_5>BEIJING - By the end of 2011 China-made supercomputers will say goodbye to foreign microchips and start using their own "Chinese core ", according to one of the country's leading scientists, Hu Weiwu. Hu told reporters on Saturday that the "Dawning 6000" supercomputer, developed by the Institute of Computing Technology of CAS and the Dawning Information Industry Company (DIIC), will adopt Loongson microchips for the first time as its core parts. It will have a computing speed of more than 1,000 trillion operations a second. Making supercomputers with Chinese microchips is one of the nation's major science and technology projects. Three organizations - the Institute of Computing Technology of CAS, Jiangnan Institute of Computing Technology and the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) - have their own supercomputer projects. According to their schedules, all three institutions will need to meet the target of using domestically developed microchips by the end of this year. Hu said the new supercomputer will use fewer than 10,000 Loongson microchips, and will also be more energy-efficient. Tianhe-1A, developed by NUDT in Hunan's provincial capital Changsha, is the fastest supercomputer in the world. However, Tianhe-1A largely runs on 14,336 CPUs made by Intel, and 7,186 GPUs (processing units) from Nvidia, two US chip-makers. Hu said there will be difficulties ahead as there is little _ equipment specially developed for these supercomputers. "We have enough supercomputers in China but still can't make full use of them," He said. Hu added that although the China-made CPUs have improved since they were first produced in 2002, they have a long way to go to compete with US chip-makers such as Intel. What's the best title for this passage?
<extra_id_0>The Arrival of Chinese Supercomputers
<extra_id_1>Homemade CPUs with a Long Way to Go
<extra_id_2>The Supercomputers of Three Organizations in China
<extra_id_3>Homemade CPUs on the Way for Local Supercomputers
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<extra_id_5>Barack Obama urged congressional leaders on Monday to act quickly to pass a huge stimulus package for the U.S. economy. He met with a (concerning or involving two different political parties) group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Later he met individually with Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders and spoke to a bipartisan leadership gathering. In comments to reporters early on Monday, he emphasized the urgency of finalizing economic . "We have got an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us," he said, "We are expecting a sobering job report at the end of the week. Nancy Pelosi and her staff have been extraordinarily helpful in working with our team so that we can shape an economic recovery and reinvestment plan that starts putting people back to work." Mr. Obama wants tax cuts for individual Americans and businesses to make up a significant portion of expected legislation. This could involve as much as $300 billion of a bill that is likely to go beyond $700 billion and include aid to cash-poor U.S. states, and money for alternative energy and a range of projects. Later, Mr. Obama said he expects to be able to sign legislation as soon as the end of this month, adding that quick action is necessary to "break the drive of the U.S. economic depression". Emerging later from bipartisan talks with Mr. Obama, Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers discussed with the president how to pass a stimulus package as quickly as possible. "An economic recovery package that will create jobs immediately and will grow the economy and that is what we talked about today," said Nancy Pelosi. "How we could do this fast, deliberatively and to act upon it soon." Just how soon that would be, Pelosi would not say. How much support Democrats can obtain from Republicans will depend on the details. But the severity of the U.S. economic depression has created considerable bipartisan backing for quick action. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid said: "There are investments that we need to make on behalf of the American people to turn around this economy. We felt very good about the meeting; we are confident that we can do this and we have to do this." "I think the best thing I can do is to decline to comment on what they are going to do going forward," said Dana Perino. "Obviously, we think that tax cuts were the right way to help our economy get out of the economic depression that this president inherited and we know that tax cuts can stimulate innovation." Asked by reporters how large the economic stimulus package might be, Senate Majority Leader Reid said Obama indicated that all but one of some 28 economists advising him had said it should range from $800 billion to $1.3 trillion. If the stimulus package is passed quickly and successfully, it can _ .
<extra_id_0>obtain support from Republicans
<extra_id_1>finalize economic legislation
<extra_id_2>enhance America's international position
<extra_id_3>provide job opportunities
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>But what is teacher quality? How can one measure it reliably? An analysis is issued on a sample of data from a Texas school district. Experts argue convincingly that teacher effectiveness should be measured by students' gains on standardized tests: Mr. Smith is probably a better teacher than Ms. Brown if his students consistently improve their test scores more than hers do. Though this approach is appealing, there are tricky issues. For example, what if Ms. Brown teaches in a school where students score so high there is little room for improvement? The authors try to correct for this problem, as well as other sorts of measurement issues, to generate a measurement of teacher effectiveness. The paper is primarily concerned with how this measure is related to other observable characteristics. The first finding is that there is a large variation in teacher effectiveness: some teachers consistently have a larger impact on their students' achievement than others. Second, easily observable characteristics like having a master's degree or a passing score on the teacher certification exam are not correlated with teacher effectiveness. Then what does matter? The most important single influence is experience: first-year teachers are much less effective than others. The second year is significantly better, and by the fourth year, _ . It is not entirely clear whether this experience effect is learning by doing (the more you teach, the more effective you become) or survival of the fittest (those who are not good at teaching tend to drop out early.) From my reading of the paper, both effects appear important and there is no simple answer. The data do suggest, however, that teacher effectiveness is pretty clear by the end of the second year, so the information to make an informed decision is available at that time. The authors also investigate the contentious issue of racial matching of students and teachers. Here they find strong evidence that minority teachers tend to be more effective with minority students. Again, it is unclear whether this is because of a role model effect (students respond better to a teacher of their own race) or an empathy effect (teachers empathize better with students of their own race) or something else entirely. The authors also look at teacher mobility. There is some evidence that teachers who quit teaching or switch schools tend to be below average in effectiveness. This is consistent with the survival-of-the-fittest model. Which of the following may serve as the best title?
<extra_id_0>The Quality of Teaching
<extra_id_1>Impact of Teacher Quality on Student Learning
<extra_id_2>Different Sorts of Measurement Issues
<extra_id_3>Survival-of-the-fittest Model vs. Learning-by-doing Model
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Buying a house for most of the people is a once in a lifetime decision, which means people decide to do so only after coming across the ideal house. Surprisingly, eight in every 10 home buyers are unhappy with their houses. A survey conducted by the Beijing Consumers' Association (BCA) recently shows about 80 percent of the 2,315 respondents in 23 residential complexes of Beijing are dissatisfied with the soaring house prices. They think the reasonable price in Beijing should be between 3,000 yuan and 7,000 yuan per square meter. The quality of the buildings, the surrounding environment and traffic and property management are the other factors that play a role in people's decision to buy a house. The BCA has suggested strict sales regulations and contracts to ease house-owners' sufferings. It has urged the authorities to impose severe punishment on developers found violating building and other rules and joining hands with others to bid up property prices, About 41.2 percent of the respondents have complained that their house have defective designs, while nearly 40 percent say the lighting and ventilation are far from satisfactory. The landscapes in the residential areas are a source of unhappiness for 43.2 percent of the respondents, and about one-third say they were " " into buying "third grade" house. And more than half are not satisfied with the sport and entertainment facilities in their neighborhood. Property management in the buildings, 56.5 percent of the respondents say, is way below standard compared to the high fee charged by the complexes. 60 percent of the consumers doubt the contents of developers' advertisements, with only 6.3 percent being satisfied. Experts have suggested consumers gather thorough knowledge about a developer and their work before deciding to buy a house from it. They should check the day-light conditions and ventilation in different weather conditions in advance, if possible. Which is the best title of the passage?
<extra_id_0>Most Home Buyers Are Unhappy with Their House.
<extra_id_1>Buying a House Is an Important Decision.
<extra_id_2>Thinking Carefully Before Buying a House.
<extra_id_3>The Environment Is Important When Making a Decision.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>In the past, writing wasn't very common in West Africa. In fact none of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a written language. Arabic was the only written language they used. The lack of a native written language does not mean that the people of West Africa didn't know their history, though. They passed on their tradition orally. An oral history is a spoken record of past event. The task of remembering and telling West Africa's history was given to storytellers. The storytellers of early West Africa were called griots. They enjoyed high social status because the people of West Africa were very interested in the deeds of their ancestors. Griots helped keep this history alive for each new generation. The griots' stories were both entertaining and informative. They told of important past events and of the accomplishments of distant ancestors. For example, some stories explained the rise and fall of the West Africa empires. Other stories described the actions of powerful kings and warriors. Some griots made their stories livelier by acting out the events like scenes in a play. In addition to stories, the griots recited proverbs, or short sayings of wisdom or truth. They used proverbs to teach lessons to the people. One West Africa proverb warns, "Talking doesn't fill the basket on the farm." This proverb reminds people that they must labor to accomplish things. It is not enough for people just to talk about what they want to do. In order to tell their stories and proverbs, the griots memorized hundreds of names and events. Through this memorization process the griots passed on West African history from generation to generation. However, some griots confused names and events in their heads. When this happened, the facts of some historical events became distorted. What do we know about the griots?
<extra_id_0>Their job required a good memory.
<extra_id_1>Most of them had a talent for acting.
<extra_id_2>They still enjoy popularity nowadays.
<extra_id_3>Their stories focused on the life of the kings.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>a student leaves a bag of acorns on the playground, which one of these will most likely take it?
<extra_id_0>a fish in the pond
<extra_id_1>a dog in the house
<extra_id_2>a stray local chipmunk
<extra_id_3>a tiger in the zoo
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Defendant, an avid fan of his hometown football team, shot at the leg of a star player for a rival team, intending to injure his leg enough to hospitalize him for a few weeks, but not to kill him. The victim died of loss of blood. Select from the choices (A D) the most serious offense of which the defendant could be properly convicted.
<extra_id_0>Involuntary manslaughter
<extra_id_1>Voluntary manslaughter
<extra_id_2>Murder
<extra_id_3>None of the abov
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Chinese Moon Festival, takes place at the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. The reason for celebrating the festival during that time is that it is the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. The Mid-autumn festival is one of the two most important occasions in Chinese calendar (the other being the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year) and it is an official holiday. It is a time for families to be together, so people far from home will gaze longingly at the moon and think about their families. The traditional food for mid-autumn festival is the moon cake which is round and symbolizes reunion. The traditional food for mid-autumn festival is ( ).
<extra_id_0>sweet dumplings.
<extra_id_1>rice dumplings.
<extra_id_2>chicken
<extra_id_3>moon cake
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<extra_id_5>Blogging has become something of a big thing in the last few years. Just like the Internet was 10 years ago, blogging is popular with an underground culture, that is doing it for love and passion . Blogging is a way of collecting links to webpages and sharing thoughts and ideas with people online. Blogs are basically online diaries which are created for sharing information and ideas. Dominic, a fifth-grade student, writes: "The blogs give us a chance to communicate between ourselves and encourage us to write more. When we publish on our blog, people across the whole world can reply by using the 'comments' link. In this way, they can ask questions or simply tell us what they like. We can then know if people like what we write and this will tell us where we can improve. By reading these comments, we can discover our weaknesses and our strengths. Blogging is a chance to exchange our opinions with the rest of the world rather than just people in our immediate environment." Blogging is sweeping the Internet. A recent report states that at least three million Americans have created blogs, with similar numbers being seen worldwide. Two years ago, Andrew Sullivan decided to set up a Web page himself and used "Blogger. com" to publish some daily thoughts to a few hundred readers. He worked hard at the blog for months for no reward. But the result is that he is now reaching almost a quarter of a million readers a month and making a lot of money. This, at least, is the idea: a publishing revolution is coming. "Blogger.com" could be to words what Napster was to music--except this time, it'll really work. According to the passage, about _ people worldwide have created blogs except
<extra_id_0>3 million
<extra_id_1>750,000
<extra_id_2>250,000
<extra_id_3>6 million
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<extra_id_5>How was your Children's Day? What kind of gifts did you get? Eight third graders in some poor places in Hebei Province got new schoolbags as Children's Day gifts. They were very happy. There were pencils, pens, exercise books and many other school supplies in the schoolbags. These schoolbags are from students in Beijing Zhongguancun Fourth Primary School. They are in Class 5, Grade 3. They raised money by themselves. They printed out their writings. Their head teacher Mrs Hou helped them to make books. They sold the books at their school to make 800 yuan. Chen Hongsheng, 9 years old, is one of the students. "We use 800 yuan to buy eight schoolbags at the post office. The post office workers give us a list of the kids. These kids live in poor places. We can choose eight kids by ourselves and post these schoolbags to them," she said very proudly. "These schoolbags are gifts of our class. This summer vacation, I'll send out a schoolbag by myself. I hope the kid with my schoolbag can go to school happily like us in the new term." How do the students of Class 5, Grade 3 make 800 Yuan?
<extra_id_0>They sold their books.
<extra_id_1>They sold their schoolbags.
<extra_id_2>They asked their teacher for it.
<extra_id_3>They asked their parents for it.
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<extra_id_5>The wolves are very hungry. They go out to look for food. There are many sheep ( ) near the hill( ). There are also a few sheepdogs with them. The wolves think of an idea. They speak to the sheepdogs," You are like us and we are brothers. But we have a very different life. We do what we like, and you must work for man. They make you look after their sheep. They eat meat and give you the bones . If you listen to us and give us the sheep, we can eat them together. All of us will be happy,right?"The dogs are happy and do like this. The wolves ask the dogs to go to their house. The sheepdogs go to the wolves' home. But the wolves eat them and then eat the sheep. The wolves go out for food because _ .
<extra_id_0>they see the sheep near the mountain
<extra_id_1>they see the sheepdogs
<extra_id_2>they are hungry
<extra_id_3>they want to go out
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<extra_id_5>A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said, "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy heard his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was, " Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course, both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat. The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind. The first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. What happened to the blind boy after the man wrote the words on the sign?
<extra_id_0>The boy was taken away by the police
<extra_id_1>Nobody gave the blind boy money any more
<extra_id_2>More people dropped money into the boy's hat
<extra_id_3>The blind boy could see the beautiful day
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<extra_id_5>I have a robot friend, Robbi. It looks like my toy car because it moves on four wheels. It is always helpful. "Come on, Robbi! Bring me milk." "Yes, Sandy," says Robbi. It goes to the kitchen and comes back with a glass of milk. It can find milk among orange juice, water, apple juice. Do you think Robbi is a waiter only good at doing housework? No, it's much more than that! It has brains , too! Let me ask Robbi a few questions. "Robbi, how many letters are there in English?" "26." "Who is Barack Obama?" "He is the president of the USA." When night comes, I need to sleep. It closes its eyes and stands there quietly! In the morning, It opens its eyes and begins to work again. What does the writer ask the robot to bring him?
<extra_id_0>Orange juice.
<extra_id_1>Milk.
<extra_id_2>Apple juice.
<extra_id_3>Water.
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<extra_id_5>Many parents today worry about their children's diets. Then what is a healthy diet for children? Miss Jones from Happy Children Hospital gives the following advice: * Children shouldn't eat food with too much salt, because it can cause high blood pressure . * Children should eat food with less fat, oil and sugar. They should not eat too much _ . * Fruit and vegetables are rich in vitamins. Children need to eat fruit and vegetables often. * Water is important to everyone. Children need to drink enough water every day. * Children need to eat breakfast every day. It is good for their bodies and minds. Miss Jones is possible a _ .
<extra_id_0>teacher
<extra_id_1>doctor
<extra_id_2>shop assistant
<extra_id_3>a waitress
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<extra_id_5>My father left me a treasure when he died. It wasn't a big house or a car. It wasn't cash or gold. In the eyes of the world my father died a poor man. He was a simple mechanic who worked hard to support his family. My father's treasure, rather, was in a thousand wonderful memories that he gave me over the course of his life. One particular one stood out in my mind today. I was just a boy playing in the backyard of a friend's house while my father spent the afternoon under the hood of an old car, trying to get it running again. It seemed to take hours and I wasn't sure whether he could bring the ancient car back to life again this time. At long last, though, he closed the hood and turned the key in the ignition . There was a sweet smile of satisfaction on his face as the engine started. There was a twinkle of joy in his eye when he shook his head. And there was a quiet hum of happiness in his voice as we drove back home that day. This memory made a home in my heart and became a priceless pearl for my soul to cherish. Time and time again, my father showed me that a kind life, a giving life and a heavenly life was created one choice at a time. Not all of his choices were the right ones, but most of them were. He did the best he could. He lived the best he could. And he helped to bring out the best in me, too. He once said to me, "It is lucky that all of your choices are driven by love and inspired by joy." As I look back into those memories my father left me, I realize that each one of them inspired me to live and to love. May all of your choices bring memories of happiness to those around you! Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>Make the Right Choices in Life
<extra_id_1>Enjoying Life with My Father
<extra_id_2>How to Repair an Ancient Car
<extra_id_3>My Father's Love and Wonderful Memories
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<extra_id_5>"Please take my penny," said Maggie to old Dan, the fisherman, who sat on a bench repairing his nets. Her brother Andrew drew her back, whispering, "Maggie, he is not a beggar !" But Maggie paid no attention. "Please take it," she said again. Old Dan smiled, and took it. "Thank you, little miss," he said, "It is kindly meant." After that, Maggie went to the beach to gather shells. She never thought how fast the hours were passing until being tired, she sat down on a rock beside a little pool. Soon she was scared by a noise near her, and Dan's large dog Rover jumped down from a rock! He licked her hands and made a loud noise, and then began gently to pull her coat. "Rover wishes me to come away, I see," she said, and she rose from the rock and began to go home. However, that was not so easy as she had expected. She found the places she had gone down easily very difficult to climb up, and as the tide had been coming in for some time. She found some of the stones wet and smooth. What could poor Maggie do? She felt sad and cried, but the waves made a much louder noise than she could make, and perhaps she would have been drowned without good wise Rover. Rover jumped upon a big stone and raised his loud bark until even the waves could not drown it. The fisherman had taken his nets to the top of the cliffs , and was laying them out in the sun when he heard the loud barking of a dog. He felt sure that it was Rover, and Rover in trouble, so, going to the edge of the cliffs, he looked over. There he saw it all--Rover barking for help, and the little child standing beside him. "Bless her! It is the little one that was so kind-spoken to me this morning!" he cried, and he hurried to his sons' home. "Quick, boys, quick!" he said. "Get to the boat, and row fast to the bay . There is a poor child there just waiting to be drowned." The fishermen lost no time, and soon little Maggie and Rover were rowed safely to land! Old Dan was waiting there to lift her out, and give her into her mother's arms. "It was the penny that did it, madam," he said to Mrs. Weston later. "I saw Rover looking at her when she put the penny so kind-like into my hand--just as if he would have said, 'Rover will be your friend now, little girl.' And I am thinking he had been looking after her all the day, for he never came near me after that." Some years later, Rover came to Maggie's home with a little note, in which was written-- "Will Maggie help Rover?--his master is dead." Which word can best describe Maggie?
<extra_id_0>Funny.
<extra_id_1>Helpful.
<extra_id_2>Creative.
<extra_id_3>Silly.
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<extra_id_5>Blair: Blair was the first to appear in movies in history. In 1905, Blair appeared in the movie Rescued by Rover . It is a British film that a baby is kidnapped by an old woman, but the faithful family dog Rover saves the baby at last. Though Rover is a common name, it became popular because of the dog hero in the movie. Lassie: lassie used to be the most famous dog in the world. She is a character who has starred in many movies, TV shows and books over the years. Lassie was created by Eric Knight and made her way into a short story in a newspaper in 1913 and into a novel in 1940. Laika: Laika is the first animal that has orbited the earth. On November 3, 1957, Laika was sent to space in the Soviet Union's Sputnik 2.(2). The Soviets admitted soon after the launch that the spacecraft would not return. It meant that the poor animal would die. People argued a lot about Laika's death. Several countries issued stamps in memory of Laika. She became the first animal to give her life for the exploration of space. Rin Tin Tin: Rin Tin Tin is the first American dog movie star. He first appeared in WhereThe North Begins in 1925. Rin Tin Tin went on to make 25 movies, he even signed his own contracts with paw prints . During his best time, he earned about 5 million dollars for those people who worked for him. Snoopy: snoopy may be the most famous cartoon dog in the world. As a hunting beagle from Charles Schultz' popular newspaper comic strip , Peanuts, snoopy first appeared in 1950. Though snoopy was at first a minor figure, he grew to become the strip's best-known character. He is famous for always sleeping on top of his doghouse and sometimes dressing up and pretending himself as a World War I airplane pilot. Snoopy appeared in the Peanuts comic strips until Schultz's retirement ( and death ) in February of 2000. According to the passage how many dogs starred in movies?
<extra_id_0>2
<extra_id_1>3
<extra_id_2>4
<extra_id_3>5
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<extra_id_5>It was the small hours of the morning when we reached London Airport. I had rung London from Amsterdam, and there was a hired car to meet, but there was one more unfortunate happening before I reached my flat. In all my travels I have never, but for that once, been required by the British customs to open a single bag or to do more than state that I carried no goods liable to duty, or rather, to declare. It was, of course, my fault; the extreme tiredness and nervous tension of the journey had destroyed my normal state of mind. I was, for whichever reason, so tired that I could hardly stand, and to the question, "have you read this?" I replied with extreme foolishness, "Yes, hundreds of times." "And you have nothing to declare?" "Nothing." "How long have you been out of this country?" "About three months." "And during that time you have acquired nothing?" "Nothing but what is on the list I have given you." He seemed momentarily at a loss, but then he attacked. The attack, when it came, was completely unexpected. "Where did you get that watch?" I could have kicked myself. Two days before, when playing water games with a friend in the bath, I had forgotten to take off my ROLEX OYSTER, and it had, not unnaturally, stopped. I had gone into the market and bought, for no more than ten pounds, an ugly time piece that made a strange noise. It had stopped twice, without any reason, during the journey. I explained, but I had already lost face. I produced my own watch from a pocket, and added that I should be grateful if he would _ the replacement. "It is not a question of confiscation; you will have it," he said, "there is a fine for failing to declare dutiable goods. And now may I please examine that Rolex?" It took another quarter of an hour to persuade him that the Rolex was not contraband ; then he began to search my luggage. What must have happened to the writer in the end?
<extra_id_0>He must have spent a long time at the customs but escaped punishment.
<extra_id_1>His Rolex must have been confiscated.
<extra_id_2>He must have been given a fine as a punishment.
<extra_id_3>His cheap watch must have been confiscated.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Mike and his father are sitting at the table . They are having their lunch. " I don't like this soup . I don't want to have it" , says Mike . After lunch , Mike and his father work on the farm . They work hard. In the evening , Mike's father gives him a bowl of soup . "Oh, this soup is nice ", says Mike. His mother says: "It's the same soup." Who doesn't like the soup for lunch ?.
<extra_id_0>His mother
<extra_id_1>His mother
<extra_id_2>Mike
<extra_id_3>A and B
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<extra_id_5>The disadvantage you usually find about MP3 players like the iPod is that they are too big. But get ready for the MP3 player in your hand to get much smaller--the size of a Band-Aid . It's called the Skinny Player, and it's being designed by industrial designers Chih-Wei Wang and Shou-His Fu. Unlike the current types of iPod Shuffles and iPod Nanos, the Skinny Player does not need to be fixed onto your clothes or put into your pocket. It could stick to your skin like you would attach a Band-Aid. But unlike Band-Aids, this tiny MP3 player will not lose its stickiness as you pull it off for the hundredth time. The Skinny Player features flexible speakers allowing the user to enjoy music conveniently. When it gets dirty, the user can simply clean it using a damp cloth. No batteries either. The Skinny Player's designers say it will be powered by body heat, using a flexible battery charging device that is in contact with skin whenever the player is being used. The design only include an on/off button and flexible speakers, no word yet on arranging the volume. Besides, the memory capacity won't be the best, as it is designed to only store one album. The small size and the ability to stick it onto your skin like a Band-Aid should make the Skinny Player perfect for runners who now depend on their iPod to keep them energized on the running path. The Skinny Player has all the advantages except that it's _ .
<extra_id_0>easy to clean
<extra_id_1>convenient to carry
<extra_id_2>smaller in size
<extra_id_3>larger in memory capacity
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<extra_id_5>The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination. Such a vehicle proved of quite enough size of the teacher's belongings, for his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded, he had never acquired the skill of playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him. The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He didn't mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again. The blacksmith, the carpenter and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first. A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, "Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you've found a place to settle in, sir." "Good idea," said the blacksmith. The smith and the carpenter started to see about possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone. "Sorry I am going, Jude?" asked the latter kindly. Tears rose into the boy's eyes. He admitted that he was sorry. "So am I," said the teacher. He continued, "Well---don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark of a man who want to do anything in teaching. My plan, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to Christminster, I shall be at headquarters , so to speak, and if my plan is practical at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance." The smith and his companion returned. Old Miss Fawly's fuel-house was big enough, and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round. Which of the following can be inferred from the text?
<extra_id_0>The teacher was torn between the eagerness to go to the city and his love for the village.
<extra_id_1>The teacher was going into a temporary place in Christminster at first.
<extra_id_2>The teacher moved his piano into the fuel-house with the help of some other people.
<extra_id_3>The teacher had so much belongings that he had to borrow a cart.
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<extra_id_5>Listen carefully, working people, we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It's "no". What do you ask? We'll say it again: "No". Sweet and simple "no". Say "no" at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. "Saying 'no' to others means you are saying 'yes' to yourself, " said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan. "Time is precious. People are spending money buying time. And yet we are willing to give up our time because we can't say 'no'." Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say "yes" need to say "no" without guilt or fear of punishment. "I would rather have someone give me a loving 'no' than an obligated 'yes', " she said. Susie Watson says she feels "no" obligation to give an explanation when she says "no" either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? "Not at all, " said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middlebury, Conneticut. "Most people are afraid of saying 'no'... My advice is to say 'yes' only if you don't mean 'no'." Watson said "no" is the most effective weapon against wasting time. "Every year there are more demands on your time... Other people are happy to use up your time, " Watson said. Time saving appears to be "no's" greatest friend. "No" can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. "No" may even take you further in the business world than "yes". "No" is power and strength. "No" now seems completely correct. "Saying 'no' isn't easy. But finally it's greatly liberating," Charles said. But, he added, a "no" project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit. But, he also warns: "Don't go to extremes. Don't find yourself saying 'no' to everything. In return you should learn to hear 'no'." When you say "no" to others you should say it in a _ .
<extra_id_0>secret way
<extra_id_1>polite way
<extra_id_2>proud way
<extra_id_3>guilty way
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>How did it make you feel when you learned that KFC'S Beijing restaurants pulled three more items from their menus last week? There were fears that the items may have contained the cancer-causing coloring Sudan I.Do you have any desire to take the food provider to court because it feeds you something dangerous? After all,the law supposedly gives people the right to fight for their rights.But some experts have said it might not be so wise to take the company directly to court. Qiu Baochang,a lawyer in Beijing,suggested that consumers not take the company directly to court."In addition to the high costs,consumers'complaints are unlikely to win unless they can prove they have had the banned dye at KFC,"--Qiu explained. One problem for those wanting to take action against the fast food chain is that few customers ask for or keep receipts .And,this must be the first step. If they can prove that their health has been damaged by KFC,they can cue the company.But that would be almost impossible to do so because the Sudan I damage is a long-term effect and is not immediately apparent. A KFC spokesperson said on Monday that the company was confdent of being able to handle customers'complaints,"We will obey legal procedure if We raceive any complaints." What is the general ieda of the passage?
<extra_id_0>KFC's Beijing restaurants pulled three items from their menus last week.
<extra_id_1>How the consumers dealt with the KFC problem.
<extra_id_2>How KFC handled the customers's complaints.
<extra_id_3>Consumers never forget to ask for or keep receipts.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>A When you think of success, you think of relative achievements in your own world. Each element of your world is important to you, and there is no need to compare with others. You cannot affect the success of others; you can affect your own success. Success is very much achievable to everybody. Believe that and you have taken the first step. If you do not believe in yourself, then building self-esteem is your first task. However, believing in your ability to achieve whatever you want to succeed in is very important if you are not to be held back by self-doubt throughout your journey to success. There are many things that will affect your ability to succeed, and it is best to focus on those under your immediate control. Once you do that, then the characteristics you develop can be applied to becoming successful in a range of activities. What is important to you is that, as you start to reach milestones in your ambitions, you should appreciate your own achievements. Appreciating yourself will strengthen your self-confidence and your determination to succeed. Some of the key characteristics you will find in those who are successful are perseverance, prepared to research, plan, work hard and practice a lot even when things do not seem to be going well, and an ability to recover and learn from setbacks. At the beginning of whatever you are trying to succeed in, a strong vision of your future, planning, and setting yourself achievable tar gets can all play an important role. All these qualities, skills and characteristics can be learned and developed. But it is up to you to get things started. Those who do not start travel nowhere. For others, life can be a continuous journey of fulfillment. 56. According to the passage, if you want to achieve success, what should you do first?
<extra_id_0>Don't compare with others.
<extra_id_1>Bring everything under control.
<extra_id_2>Find out what you have in mind.
<extra_id_3>Feel confident about your ability.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Which is a producer?
<extra_id_0>cloudy mornings
<extra_id_1>vinyl
<extra_id_2>team Alicia
<extra_id_3>strawberries
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Last summer was Ann's first trip to Spain . She was very excited. But when she arrived at the hotel, she found that her Spanish money wasn't in her handbag. She looked for it carefully in all her bags, but she couldn't find it. She had only a ten-pound note with her. She found a place to change her English money. On her way back to the hotel, Ann bought some cheese, some bread and some oranges. She told the manager that she didn't eat Spanish food except for breakfast, because she knew the price of hotels included breakfast. Other tourists visited places of great interest in Spain. Ann said she wasn't well. In fact, her holiday wasn't bad, except that she was hungry. After all a piece of fruit for lunch, and bread and cheese for supper isn't very much. especially not for two weeks. On the last day of her holiday, Jane, one of the tourists asked Ann why she never ate with them in the hotel restaurant. The food was delicious. Ann told her all about her money problem. Jane looked at her for a moment, and then said, "But didn't you know the price of this hotel includes everything?" Why was Ann very excited? Because _ .
<extra_id_0>this was Ann's first trip to Spain
<extra_id_1>Ann was so hungry
<extra_id_2>Ann couldn't find her Spanish money
<extra_id_3>Ann wasn't well
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